Continuous wave dye lasers and their applications to high resolution spectroscopy

The 3-mirror astigmatically compensated continuous wave (CW) dye laser was the basis for a pressure-tuned CW dye laser for spectroscopic applications. Traveling-wave operation of this laser was achieved using a passive optical isolator. By using air-spaced etalons enclosed in an intracavity pressure chamber, this single mode dye laser can be tuned over ranges greater than one nanometer. A frequency marker consisting of a fixed-frequency laser and a synchronously pressure-tuned Fabry-Perot cavity provides the calibration of the absorption spectrum. The photon statistics of the CW dye laser were studied. The photocount statistics and photocount correlations of a dye laser operated with and without internal etalons were determined. Estimates of the mean laser light intensity as a function of time were made using the photocount records and a newly developed stochastic estimation procedure.