Fiber-coupled 2 mL vacuum-gap Fabry-Perot reference cavity for portable laser stabilization

Area of Science:

• Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics
• Laser Physics and Technology
• Metrology and Precision Measurement

Background:

• Vacuum-gap Fabry-Perot cavities are crucial for frequency-stable lasers but are typically bulky and alignment-sensitive.
• Existing systems are difficult to make compact, portable, and rugged for field applications.
• Advances in fiber optics offer potential for miniaturization and improved robustness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a compact, fiber-coupled laser stabilization system for portable applications.
• To demonstrate thermal noise-limited performance in a miniaturized cavity-based system.
• To enhance the accessibility of high-frequency stability laser technology.

Main Methods:

• Construction of a 2 mL vacuum-gap Fabry-Perot cavity.
• Integration of fiber-coupled optical components, eliminating free-space optics and alignment.
• Development of a 1396 nm laser stabilization system for a portable strontium optical lattice clock.

Main Results:

• Achieved a fractional frequency instability of 1x10^-14.
• Demonstrated thermal noise-limited performance.
• Successfully created a portable, alignment-free laser stabilization system.

Conclusions:

• The developed system represents a significant advancement in portable laser stabilization.
• Fiber-integrated optics are key to creating compact and robust cavity-based systems.
• This technology broadens the accessibility of high-frequency stability lasers for diverse applications.