Abstract: A microwave oscillator frequency modulates the output of the laser system to be controlled. The modulated output passes through a molecular gas cell. The output of the molecular gas cell is detected by a square law device, which produces a signal at the desired microwave frequency only when a sideband of the modulated laser output coincides with the desired molecular transition frequency. A quadrature signal pair is produced by mixing the filtered output of the square law device with two phase-shifted signals from the microwave oscillator. The dispersion signal can be used to control the output frequency of the laser system, since its magnitude and sign are uniquely related to the required direction of correction.