Sub-MHz linewidth distributed feedback laser at 780.24-nm emission wavelength for 87Rb applications

A GaAs/AlGaAs distributed feedback semiconductor (DFB) laser with a laterally-coupled grating is demonstrated at a wavelength of 780.24 nm with an output power up to 60 mW. A mode expander and aluminum-free active layers have been used in the material epilayer to reduce the linewidth to 612 kHz while maintaining high output power. The fabricated laser demonstrates over 40 dB side-mode suppression ratio with tuning range > 0.3 nm, which is suitable for atom cooling experiments with the D2 87Rb atomic transition and provides substantial potential for the laser to be integrated into miniaturized cold atom systems.