A diode laser system for spectroscopy of the ultranarrow transition in ytterbium atoms

A narrow-line diode laser system has been developed for high-resolution spectroscopy of the magnetic quadrupole transition in ytterbium (Yb) atoms at 507 nm. The system consists of an extended-cavity laser diode at 1014 nm, a tapered amplifier and a periodically poled lithium niobate nonlinear crystal which converts the wavelength from 1014 nm to 507 nm. We have stabilized the laser frequency and reduced the linewidth below 1 kHz by tightly locking the laser to a high-finesse optical cavity. By using the developed laser system, we have successfully observed the ultranarrow transition in Yb atoms. Furthermore, our simple and compact laser system could be a high performance and portable frequency reference using iodine spectra whose linewidth becomes less than 50 kHz around 507 nm. We have also demonstrated spectroscopy of iodine molecules. PACS 32.30.-r; 07.60.-j