Frequency stability of a wavelength meter and applications to laser frequency stabilization

TL;DR

This paper evaluates a Fizeau interferometer-based wavelength meter's frequency stability and demonstrates its application in stabilizing a near-infrared laser for precision experiments, achieving sub-10^-10 instability levels.

Contribution

It provides a detailed characterization of a no-moving-parts wavelength meter and demonstrates its effectiveness in laser frequency stabilization for atomic physics applications.

Findings

Achieves short-term frequency instability of ~2×10^-10 at 1 second

Demonstrates frequency drift of about 10 MHz per day

Maintains sub-3×10^-10 instability from 1 to 2000 seconds

Abstract

Interferometric wavelength meters have attained frequency resolutions down to the MHz range. In particular, Fizeau interferometers, which have no moving parts, are becoming a popular tool for laser characterization and stabilization. In this article, we characterize such a wavelength meter using an ultra-stable laser in terms of relative frequency instability $\sigma_y(\tau)$ and demonstrate that it can achieve a short-term instability $\sigma_y(1 s) \approx 2{\times}10^{-10}$ and a frequency drift of order $10$ MHz/day. We use this apparatus to demonstrate frequency control of a near-infrared laser, where a frequency instability below $3{\times}10^{-10}$ from 1 s to 2000 s is achieved. Such performance is for example adequate for ions trapping and atoms cooling experiments.