Scheme for improving laser stability via feedback control of intracavity nonlinear loss

We present a novel and efficient scheme to enhance the stability of laser output via feedback control to a nonlinear loss deliberately introduced to the laser resonator. By means of the feedback control to the intracavity nonlinear loss of an all-solid-state continuous-wave single-frequency laser with high output power at 1064 nm, its intensity and frequency stabilities are significantly improved. A lithium triborate crystal is deliberately placed inside the laser resonator to be an element of the nonlinear loss, and the temperature of the crystal is feedback controlled by an electronic loop. The control signal is generated by distinguishing the deviation of the output power and used for manipulating the intracavity nonlinear loss to compensate the deviation of the laser power actively. With the feedback-control loop, the intensity and frequency fluctuations of the output laser at 1064 nm are reduced from ±0.59% and 21.82 MHz without the feedback to ±0.26% and 9.84 MHz, respectively.