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0.26-Hz-linewidth ultrastable lasers at 1557 nm
Lifei Wu1, Yanyi Jiang1, Chaoqun Ma1
1State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China.
Scientific Reports
|April 28, 2016
Summary
We developed two ultrastable lasers at 1557 nm, achieving a narrow linewidth of 0.26 Hz. These lasers demonstrate exceptional frequency stability for precision spectroscopy and fiber optic applications.
Area of Science:
- Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics
- Laser Physics and Technology
Background:
- Narrow-linewidth lasers are critical for applications like coherent light transfer and precision spectroscopy.
- The performance of these lasers is directly tied to their frequency stability and linewidth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate ultrastable lasers with unprecedented narrow linewidths and high frequency stability.
- To achieve performance approaching the thermal noise limit of reference cavities.
Main Methods:
- Frequency stabilization of two lasers to the resonance of 10-cm-long ultrastable Fabry-Pérot cavities.
- Operation at a wavelength of 1557 nm and room temperature.
Main Results:
- Achieved a most probable laser linewidth of 0.26 Hz.
- Demonstrated fractional frequency instability of 8 × 10⁻¹⁶ at 1-30 s averaging times.
- Attained a frequency instability of 1 × 10⁻¹⁵ on longer timescales (100-4000 s).
Conclusions:
- The developed lasers represent a significant advancement in laser stability and linewidth performance.
- The results approach the fundamental thermal noise limits of the reference cavities, validating the experimental approach.
