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Fast scanning cavity offset lock for laser frequency drift stabilization
Nicolas Seymour-Smith1, Peter Blythe, Matthias Keller
1Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9QH, United Kingdom.
The Review of Scientific Instruments
|August 7, 2010
Summary
This study presents a compact system for long-term laser frequency stabilization. It achieves high stability by transferring master laser precision to slave lasers using a scanning Fabry-Perot resonator and advanced feedback control.
Area of Science:
- Physics
- Optical Engineering
- Laser Technology
Background:
- Long-term laser frequency stabilization is crucial for precision measurements.
- Existing methods often lack compactness or sufficient stability.
- Fabry-Perot resonators are key components in optical frequency standards.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a compact and effective setup for long-term laser frequency stabilization.
- To transfer the stability of a master laser to multiple slave lasers.
- To improve upon the performance of previous scanning-cavity stabilization systems.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a confocal Fabry-Perot resonator to couple light from master and slave lasers.
- Employed a scanning cavity technique, moving over one free spectral range.
- Implemented fast analog peak detection and low-latency digital feedback control.
- Achieved a scanning frequency of 3 kHz, resulting in a feedback bandwidth of 380 Hz.
Main Results:
- Successfully transferred long-term stability from a master laser to slave lasers.
- Demonstrated a relative stability of better than 10 kHz at timescales longer than 1 second.
- Achieved a significant improvement compared to previous scanning-cavity stabilization methods.
- The compact setup facilitates practical implementation.
Conclusions:
- The developed compact setup offers a robust solution for long-term laser frequency stabilization.
- The method effectively transfers master laser stability to slave lasers with high precision.
- This technique represents a significant advancement in optical frequency stabilization.
