Laser frequency stabilizer using transient spectral hole burning
AssigneeThe Research and Development Institute, Inc.
InventorsPeter B. Sellin, Nicholas M. Strickland, John L. Carlsten, Rufus L. Cone
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Abstract
Techniques for stabilizing a laser at a selectable frequency include splitting an output beam from an electrically adjustable laser into a first beam and a second beam. The second beam is transmitted through a modulator. Then the second beam is transmitted through a transient spectral hole burning material onto a detector. The laser is electronically adjusted in response to a detector output from the detector which senses the changes in the modulated second beam after it passes through the transient spectral hole burning material. Additions here to encompass the mode-locked case?
Claims20
A method for stabilizing a laser at a selectable frequency, the method comprising the steps of:
- outputting a beam from a frequency adjustable laser at a selected frequency;
- splitting the output beam into a first beam and a second beam, the first beam to be used in a separate application after the frequency adjustable laser is stabilized at the selected frequency, the second beam to be used for stabilizing the frequency adjustable laser at the selected frequency;
- transmitting the second beam through a spectral hole burning material having an inhomogeneously broadened absorption line and capable of supporting a transient spectral hole or holes for a lifetime characteristic of the spectral hole burning material, the transient spectral hole in the inhomogeneously broadened absorption being used as a frequency and/or phase reference, and at least one of the spectrum, amplitude and phase of the second beam being modified via interaction with the spectral hole burning material;
- transmitting the second beam, after passing through the spectral hole burning material, onto a detector to provide an electrical signal output of sensed changes in the second beam;
- and
- adjusting the laser via feedback control, according to an adjusting signal derived from the electrical signal output from the detector, to stabilize the frequency adjustable laser at the selected frequency.
A laser stabilization device, comprising:
- a frequency adjustable laser;
- a beam splitter for splitting the beam from the frequency adjustable laser into a first beam and a second beam, the first beam being output to a separate application after the frequency adjustable laser is stabilized at a selected frequency;
- a transient spectral hole burning material receiving the second beam and having an inhomogeneously broadened absorption line and capable of supporting a transient spectral hole or holes for a lifetime characteristic of the spectral hole burning material, the transient spectral hole in the inhomogeneously broadened absorption line providing a frequency and/or phase reference, and at least one of the spectrum, amplitude and phase of the second beam being modified via interaction with the spectral hole burning material;
- a detector configured to sense the changes in the second beam after passing through the transient spectral hole burning material and output an electrical signal of the sensed changes;
- and
- servo electronics for stabilizing the frequency adjustable laser at the selected frequency in response to an adjusting signal derived from the electrical signal output from the detector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.