Simple Locking of IR and UV diode lasers to a visible laser using a LabVIEW PID controller on a Fabry-Perot signal

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a simple, computer-controlled method for locking IR and UV lasers to a visible reference using a Fabry-Perot cavity and LabVIEW PID control, achieving stability better than 9 MHz for laser cooling applications.

Contribution

It introduces a straightforward, non temperature-stabilized Fabry-Perot locking scheme utilizing LabVIEW PID control for simultaneous stabilization of multiple lasers.

Findings

Achieved laser frequency stabilization better than 9 MHz

Demonstrated effective locking of IR and UV lasers to a visible reference

Validated the method for laser cooling of Ca+ ions

Abstract

Simultaneous laser locking of IR and UV lasers to a visible stabilized reference laser is demonstrated via a Fabry-Perot cavity. LabVIEW is used to analyze the input and an internal PID algorithm converts the Fabry-Perot signal to an analog locking feedback signal. The locking program stabilized both lasers to a long term stability of better than 9 MHz, with a custom-built IR laser undergoing significant improvement in frequency stabilization. The results of this study demonstrate the viability of a simple computer-controlled, non temperature-stabilized Fabry-Perot locking scheme for our application, laser cooling of Ca+ ions, and its use in other applications with similar modest frequency stabilization requirements.