Low-amplitude-noise laser for AURIGA detector optical readout

We implemented a laser system to be used in an optical transduction chain f or the gravitational-wave bar detector AURIGA (Antenna Ultracriogenica Riso nante per l'Indagine Gravitazionale Astronomica; UItracryogenic Resonant An tenna for Astronomical Gravitational Investigation). This system is based o n a Nd:YAG laser and includes quantum-limited power stabilization in the ac oustic range, deep phase modulation and near-quantum-limited rf detection f or locking onto optical cavities, and coupling to a single-mode polarizatio n-maintaining optical fiber without deterioration of performance. Such a sy stem has wide applications in optical metrology. (C) 2000 Optical Society o f America. OCIS codes: 120.3930, 230.0230, 280.3420.