From CD players to fiber optic communications, from military to personal to industrial systems, the semi-conductor diode laser is one of the most important technologies today.
Though not tunable over a large range, diode lasers can be adjusted for optimal lasing. Moreover, its compact size lends itself to potential portability and efficient packaging, not to mention use in various household items.
This experiment is a study of the characteristics of the diode laser, its performance around threshold, and the resultant modes within the cavity. It also includes two calculations of the cavity length of the laser, based upon spectral data and beat patterns of modes.