Laser stabilization at 1536 nm using regenerative spectral hole burning - art. no. 155111

Laser frequency stabilization giving a 500-Hz Allan deviation for a 2-ms in tegration time with drift reduced to 7 kHz/min over several minutes was ach ieved at 1536 nm in the optical communication band. A continuously regenera ted spectral hole in the inhomogeneously broadened I-4(15/2)(1) --> I-4(13/ 2)(1) optical absorption of an Er3+ : Y2SiO5 crystal was used as the short- term frequency reference, while a variation on the locking technique allowe d simultaneous use of the inhomogeneously broadened absorption line as a lo ng-term reference. The reported frequency stability was achieved without vi bration isolation. Spectral hole burning frequency stabilization provides i deal laser sources for high-resolution spectroscopy, real-time optical sign al processing, and a range of applications requiring ultra-narrow-band ligh t sources or coherent detection; the time scale fur stability and the compa tibility with spectral hole burning devices make this technique complementa ry to other frequency references for laser stabilization.