Title :
CO2 laser stabilization to 0.1-Hz level using external electrooptic modulation
Author :
Bernard, V. ; Daussy, C. ; Nogues, G. ; Constantin, L. ; Durand, P.E. ; Amy-Klein, A. ; Van Lerberghe, A. ; Chardonnet, C.
Author_Institution :
Lab. de Phys. des Lasers, Univ. de Paris-Nord, Villetaneuse, France
fDate :
8/1/1997 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
We have developed a frequency stabilization scheme for CO2 lasers using only external modulation via an electrooptic modulator (EOM). One of the two laser sidebands which are generated by the EOM and frequency-modulated is set in resonance with a Fabry-Perot cavity, itself filled with OsO4 as an absorber. The saturation signal of an OsO4 line detected in transmission of the Fabry-Perot cavity is used for stabilization. We obtained a stability of 0.1 Hz (Δν/ν=3.5 10-15) on a 100-s time scale, and a reproducibility up to 10 Hz with the strongest OsO4 reference lines. These results largely improve the performance of our previous setup for which modulation was applied through piezoelectric transducers. Further, the stabilized laser is not frequency-modulated and is easily tunable
Keywords :
Fabry-Perot resonators; carbon compounds; electro-optical modulation; frequency modulation; gas lasers; laser cavity resonators; laser frequency stability; laser tuning; light absorption; optical saturation; 100 s; CO2; CO2 laser stabilization; EOM; Fabry-Perot cavity; OsO4; OsO4 reference lines; easily tunable lasers; electrooptic modulator; external electrooptic modulation; external modulation; frequency-modulated; laser absorber; laser cavity resonators; laser frequency stabilization scheme; laser sidebands; piezoelectric transducers; reproducibility; saturation signal; Absorption; Electrooptic modulators; Frequency; Laser stability; Lasers and electrooptics; Piezoelectric transducers; Reproducibility of results; Resonance; Spectroscopy; Tunable circuits and devices;
Journal_Title :
Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of
