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Control and active stabilization of the linewidth of an ECDL

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Abstract

The linewidth of a polarization-locked external cavity diode laser (ECDL) is explored employing heterodyne as well as self-heterodyne measurements. We use a model capable of providing the individual contributions of white, pink and red noise to the overall linewidth to analyze the measured beat spectra. These spectra are obtained while tuning the external cavity as well as a function of pump current and feedback level. By virtue of our locking technique, we find that the linewidth can be adjusted and minimized by simply altering the setpoint of the closed-loop control. This control of the linewidth is applicable for any ECDL using polarization locking. For our particular ECDL, we are able to tune the overall linewidth from ≈8 kHz to 20 kHz. Moreover, we achieve a lower white noise level of the ECDL compared to a free running one.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Robert Roth for helpful discussions, Wolfgang Elsässer for lending us the real time spectrum analyzer and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft within the framework of GRK 1037 for their financial support.

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  1. Institute of Applied Physics, TU Darmstadt, Schlossgartenstr. 7, 64289, Darmstadt, Germany

    T. Führer & T. Walther

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  1. T. Führer
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  2. T. Walther
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Correspondence to T. Walther.

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Führer, T., Walther, T. Control and active stabilization of the linewidth of an ECDL. Appl. Phys. B 108, 249–253 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-012-4999-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-012-4999-4

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