High-Temperature Operation of Tuneable 780 nm DBR Lasers for Spectroscopic Applications

In recent years, a number of experiments have reached technological maturity to be considered for use in space, including magnetic field sensors, positioning systems, and quantum sensing applications [1]–[3]. They all require compact, light-weight, power- and cost-efficient laser systems for which frequency stabilized diode lasers are the most suitable laser source. To reduce power consumption for cooling, it is preferable to operate the diode lasers at high ambient temperatures, which requires an adaption of the design [4]. Here, we present distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) lasers, optimized for implementation in Rb-based spectroscopic applications at temperatures around 75°C. Micro-heaters integrated into the cavity allow the target wavelength of 780.2 nm to be tuned independently of output power and ambient temperature.