Vibration-tolerant narrow-linewidth semiconductor disk laser using novel frequency-stabilisation schemes

Hunter, Craig R. and Jones, Brynmor E. and Schlosser, Peter and Sørensen, Simon Toft and Strain, Michael J. and McKnight, Loyd J. (2018) Vibration-tolerant narrow-linewidth semiconductor disk laser using novel frequency-stabilisation schemes. Proceedings of SPIE, 10515. ISSN 0277-786X

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Abstract

This paper will present developments in narrow-linewidth semiconductor-disk-laser systems using novel frequency-stabilisation schemes for reduced sensitivity to mechanical vibrations, a critical requirement for mobile applications. Narrow-linewidth single-frequency lasers are required for a range of applications including metrology and high-resolution spectroscopy. Stabilisation of the laser was achieved using a monolithic fibre-optic ring resonator with free spectral range of 181 MHz and finesse of 52 to act as passive reference cavity for the laser. Such a cavity can operate over a broad wavelength range and is immune to a wide band of vibrational frequency noise due to its monolithic implementation. The frequency noise of the locked system has been measured and compared to typical Fabry-Perot-locked lasers using vibration equipment to simulate harsh environments, and analysed here. Locked linewidths of < 40 kHz have been achieved. These developments offer a portable, narrow-linewidth laser system for harsh environments that can be flexibly designed for a range of applications.