Automatic wavelength control of a flashlamp-pumped dye laser

This paper describes a technique for automatically tuning a flashlamp-pumped dye laser to the sodium D₂ line with a precision of ±2 pm (0.02 Å). The same technique could be used for tuning to other emission lines for which a monochromatic source of reasonable intensity is available. A slight modification of the method would enable the laser to be accurately tuned within a range ±10 pm (0.1 Å) of the given emission line.