In this Note we describe the design, construction, and calibration of an electronic wavelength-meter using a wavelength-sensitive dual-output photodiode. The device was constructed using electronic circuitry and then calibrated using various laser sources in the wavelength range 500–850 nm. This is an inexpensive device compared to the other similar devices available commercially. It is very useful for the determination of the wavelengths of diode lasers. It works well with multi-mode light, and there are no stringent alignment requirements. It is extremely compact and essentially a “pocket wavemeter.” The wavelength range for the operation of the wavelength-meter is 450 to 900 nm and it gives 1–3 nm accuracy, depending on the wavelength.
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P. J.
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K. J. Millman and C. C. Halkias, Integrated Electronics, International student edition (McGraw-Hill, Singapore, 1985), p. 540.
4.
P. Horowitz and W. Hill, The Art of Electronics (Cambridge U.P., Cambridge, 1995), 2nd ed., p. 996, p. 254.
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© 2005 American Association of Physics Teachers.
2005
American Association of Physics Teachers
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