Wavelength-stabilized diode laser

A hybrid external cavity laser (HECL) system comprises a diode laser, collection and collimation optics, and a volume Bragg grating, emits radiation at a single wavelength with a short-term wavelength stability in the order of at least one part in a billion The wavelength stability is achieved by use of a thermal management system, comprising inner and outer housings, each containing a temperature sensor, and electronic circuitry that monitors the temperatures and controls both the laser diode current and a thermoelectric cooler based on temperatures determined from said temperature sensors. The laser system is packaged in a compact enclosure that minimizes waste heat, facilitating use in applications that have heretofore employed stable, single-frequency lasers, including He-Ne lasers.