We have constructed a solid-state light source for experiments with lasercooled lithium atoms based on a Nd:YVO$_4$ ring laser with second-harmonicgeneration. Unidirectional lasing, an improved mode selection, and a highoutput power of the ring laser was achieved by weak coupling to an externalcavity which contained the lossy elements required for single frequencyoperation. Continuous frequency tuning is accomplished by controlling two PZTsin the internal and the external cavities simultaneously. The light source hasbeen utilized to trap and cool fermionic lithium atoms into the quantumdegenerate regime.
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