Fully automatic tunable laser systems for spectroscopy

A microcomputer controlled dye laser system pumped by a TEA nitrogen laser is developed as a tunable light source with a wide spectral range for the laser spectroscopy. A turret exchanger containing thirteen dye-cells makes a rapid dye exchange possible. Fully automatic operation over a wavelength range from 220 nm to 740 nm by the aid of a frequency doubler. Laser radiation at an arbitrary wavelength over this spectral range can be instantly generated with an absolute accuracy of ± 1 cm-1 calibrated by a simple optogalvanic wavemeter inside. A new project on the development of the high-power tunable source based on a Ti-sapphire laser is also briefly introduced. (orig.)