Long term laser frequency control for applications in atomic physics

Citation
Bth. Varcoe et al., Long term laser frequency control for applications in atomic physics, MEAS SCI T, 11(11), 2000, pp. N111-N116
Citations number
11
Categorie Soggetti
Spectroscopy /Instrumentation/Analytical Sciences","Instrumentation & Measurement
Journal title
MEASUREMENT SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
ISSN journal
09570233 → ACNP
Volume
11
Issue
11
Year of publication
2000
Pages
N111 - N116
Database
ISI
SICI code
0957-0233(200011)11:11<N111:LTLFCF>2.0.ZU;2-A
Abstract
An improvement to the saturated absorption technique of long term stabiliza tion of lasers is reported. This new method enables stabilization to the ce ntre of saturated absorption features regardless of whether the peaks are s ymmetric or asymmetric. Another feature of the locking system is its abilit y to stabilize the laser at precisely known small detunings from the centre of the absorption line. The locking system has been applied to both dye la ser and titanium sapphire laser systems. The long term drift for each was m easured to be smaller than the laser jitter bandwidth of about 1 MHz for pe riods of hours, and no mode hops were recorded over several weeks of operat ion.