Calibration of a computer-controlled precision wavemeter for use with pulsed lasers

Area of Science:

• Optical Physics
• Laser Metrology
• Instrumentation

Background:

• Precise monitoring of laser sources is crucial for various scientific applications.
• Existing wavemeter technologies may have limitations in speed or accuracy for pulsed laser tuning.
• Fabry-Perot etalons offer a basis for high-resolution wavelength measurement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and present a pulsed wavemeter for high-precision tuning of pulsed and continuous-wave (cw) laser sources.
• To achieve absolute wavelength measurement in the visible spectrum with high accuracy.
• To enable rapid data acquisition and computation for real-time monitoring.

Main Methods:

• Development of a wavemeter utilizing silver-coated Fabry-Perot etalons with varied plate spacings for stepwise wavelength refinement.
• Computer control via a CAMAC interface for automated operation and data acquisition.
• Calibration across the 400-850 nm range using hyperfine transitions of atomic standards (iodine, uranium, rubidium, cesium).

Main Results:

• Achieved absolute wavelength measurement accuracy of 2 parts in 10^8 in the visible spectrum.
• Demonstrated data acquisition and computation in less than 100 ms using a single 2-MHz CPU.
• Investigated discrepancies between expected and measured wavelength-dependent phase shifts, attributing them to optical aberrations or fringe measurement techniques.

Conclusions:

• The designed pulsed wavemeter provides a robust solution for high-precision laser tuning monitoring.
• The instrument demonstrates high accuracy and speed, suitable for demanding spectroscopic applications.
• Further investigation into optical aberrations and fringe analysis methods is recommended to fully reconcile measurement discrepancies.