An agile laser with ultra-low frequency noise and high sweep linearity

Haifeng Jiang (1) , Fabien Kéfélian (2) , Pierre Lemonde (1) , André Clairon (1) , Giorgio Santarelli (1)

1 LNE - SYRTE - Laboratoire national de métrologie et d'essais - Systèmes de Référence Temps-Espace
2 LPL - Laboratoire de Physique des Lasers

We report on a fiber-stabilized agile laser with ultra-low frequency noise. The frequency noise power spectral density is comparable to that of an ultra-stable cavity stabilized laser at Fourier frequencies higher than 30 Hz. When it is chirped at a constant rate of ~ 40 MHz/s, the max non-linearity frequency error is about 50 Hz peak-to-peak over more than 600 MHz tuning range. The Rayleigh backscattering is found to be a significant frequency noise source dependent on fiber length, chirping rate and the power imbalance of the interferometer arms. We analyze this effect both theoretically and experimentally and put forward techniques to reduce this noise contribution., "Quantum storage in rare-earth doped crystals for secure networks," J. Lumin. 122–123, 526–528 (2007). 6. J. Hough, and S. Rowan, "Laser interferometry for the detection of gravitational waves,", "Compact, thermal-noise-limited optical cavity for diode laser stabilization at 1×10 −15 ," Opt. Lett. 32(6), 641– 643 (2007)., "Ultrastable lasers based on vibration insensitive cavities," Phys. Rev. A 79(5), 053829 (2009). 12. Y. T. Chen, "Use of single-mode optical fiber in the stabilization of laser frequency," Appl. Opt. 28(11), 2017 (1989). 13. C. Greiner, B. Boggs, T. Wang, and T. W. Mossberg, "Laser frequency stabilization by means of optical self-heterodyne beat-frequency control," Opt. Lett. 14. G. A. Cranch, "Frequency noise reduction in erbium-doped fiber distributed-feedback lasers by electronic feedback," Opt. Lett. 27(13), 1114–1116 (2002). 15. J.-F. Cliché, M. Allard, and M. Têtu, "High-power and ultranarrow DFB laser: the effect of linewidth reduction systems on coherence length and interferometer noise," Proc. SPIE 6216, 6216001 (2006).Active stabilization of a rapidly chirped laser by an optoelectronic digital servo-loop control," Opt. Lett. 32(5), 484–486 (2007). 18. K. Takahashi, M. Ando, and K. Tsubono, "Stabilization of laser intensity and frequency using optical fiber," J.-frequency-noise stabilization of a laser by locking to an optical fiber-delay line," Opt. Lett.

Mots clés: Lasers and laser optics; Lasers tunable; Scattering Rayleigh; Laser stabilization; Lasers frequency modulated

Domaines: Optique / photonique

Haifeng Jiang, Fabien Kéfélian, Pierre Lemonde, André Clairon, Giorgio Santarelli. An agile laser with ultra-low frequency noise and high sweep linearity. Optics Express, 2010, 18, pp.3284-3297. ⟨10.1364/OE.18.003284⟩. ⟨hal-01075185⟩