Dichroic atomic vapor laser lock with multi-gigahertz stabilization range

TL;DR

This paper introduces a compact DAVLL system using buffer-gas-filled vapor cells that achieves multi-gigahertz laser stabilization range, comparable to bulk systems, with added advantages of size and tunability.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel DAVLL system with buffer-gas-filled vapor cells enabling wide-range laser frequency stabilization up to 16 GHz from the optical transition.

Findings

Achieved laser locking up to 16 GHz away from the optical transition.

Demonstrated stable locking between hyperfine components of $^{85}$Rb.

System maintains stability comparable to conventional bulk vapor cell DAVLL.

Abstract

A dichroic atomic vapor laser lock (DAVLL) system exploiting buffer-gas-filled millimeter-scale vapor cells is presented. This system offers similar stability as achievable with conventional DAVLL system using bulk vapor cells, but has several important advantages. In addition to its compactness, it may provide continuous stabilization in a multi-gigahertz range around the optical transition. This range may be controlled either by changing the temperature of the vapor or by application of a buffer gas under an appropriate pressure. In particular, we experimentally demonstrate the ability of the system to lock the laser frequency between two hyperfine components of the $^{85}$Rb ground state or as far as 16 GHz away from the closest optical transition.