Laser stabilization to an atomic transition using an optically generated dispersive lineshape

TL;DR

This paper presents a straightforward method to generate a dispersive signal for stabilizing a continuous-wave laser to an atomic transition, enhancing long-term frequency stability for atomic physics experiments.

Contribution

The authors introduce a simple, robust dispersive signal generation technique using nonlinear effects and spatial filtering for laser stabilization to atomic resonances.

Findings

Successful locking of lasers to cesium and rubidium D2 lines

Significant reduction in long-term frequency drifts

Applicable to various atomic physics applications

Abstract

We report on a simple and robust technique to generate a dispersive signal which serves as an error signal to electronically stabilize a monomode cw laser emitting around an atomic resonance. We explore nonlinear effects in the laser beam propagation through a resonant vapor by way of spatial filtering. The performance of this technique is validated by locking semiconductor lasers to the cesium and rubidiumD2 line and observing long-term reduction of the emission frequency drifts, making the laser well adapted for many atomic physics applications.