This is the first book on tunable external cavity semiconductor diode lasers, providing an up-to-date survey on the physics, technology, and performance of widely applicable coherent radiation sources of tunable external cavity diode lasers. The purpose is to provide a thorough account of the state-of-the-art of tunable external cavity diode lasers which is achieved by combining this account with basic concepts of semiconductor diode lasers and its tunability with monolithic structures. The practical and accessible information in this volume will enable the reader to study external cavity diode laser, to build up the systems of external cavity diode laser as well as to develop advanced systems for their particular applications. This book will appeal to undergraduate and graduate students, scientists and engineers alike.

Annotation. - Presents a thorough account of the state-of-the-art of tunable external cavity diode lasers Provides an up-to-date survey on physics, technology, and performance of widely applicable coherent radiation sources of tunable external cavity diode lasers May be used as a textbook for related undergraduate and graduate courses.

The purpose of this thesis is to describe the construction and operation of a single mode, tunable, external cavity diode laser for use in the excitation of lithium atoms. I will report the relevant ideas required to understand diode laser operation as well as the various quantum states of lithium. The primary focus of this experiment is to construct a tunable external cavity diode laser at 670.8 nm to be used in future experiments on lithium.