Modulation-free frequency stabilization of a laser based on a confocal Fabry-Perot cavity

Hai Jing Yang*, Yan Hua Wang, Tian Cai Zhang, Jun Min Wang

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Locking laser to a proper reference frequency can obviously improve the laser s frequency stability. The optical path and frequencies are different for axial and paraxial beams traveling through a confocal Fabry-Perot (CFP) cavity, thus the frequency difference between them which is a dispersion-like signal can be used to stabilize the laser frequency. Thus the phase-sensitive detection via lock-in and frequency dither on the laser or cavity is no longer required. With this modulation-free stabilization method, a homemade 852 nm grating-external-cavity diode laser is stabilized to a CFP cavity frequency, whose frequency jitter is less than ±340 kHz in 30 seconds estimated from locked error signal. The long-term frequency stability was greatly improved compared with the frequency fluctuation of about 10 MHz under free-running condition in the same time scale. Moreover, the frequency shift and the zero-crossing slope of the dispersion-like frequency-discriminating signal can be conveniently changed by adjusting the angle between the two incident beams. The laser frequency stability locking with different frequency interval is investigated.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)316-320
Number of pages5
JournalZhongguo Jiguang/Chinese Journal of Lasers
Volume33
Issue number3
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2006
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Confocal Fabry-Perot cavity
  • Grating-feedback extended-cavity diode laser
  • Laser technique
  • Modulation free frequency stabilization

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