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Laser Frequency Stabilization Using a Slow Light Cavity

Gustavsson, David LU orcid (2024) In Lund Reports on Atomic Physics
Abstract
Laser frequency stabilization is a necessary component in many modern technologies and physics experiments,
providing spectral resolution for spectroscopic investigations, accurate optical clocks for timekeeping and phase
stability for interferometry. The limiting factor to the frequency stability of state-of-the-art laser stabilization is
frequency uncertainty as a result from variations in the length of the cavity used as a reference, due to Brownian
motion of the atoms forming the mirrors. One way to mitigate this issue is to extend the cavity, thereby reducing
the relative length uncertainty. This thesis describes a laser frequency reference which was built out of a plane
mirror cavity surrounding a crystal of... (More)
Laser frequency stabilization is a necessary component in many modern technologies and physics experiments,
providing spectral resolution for spectroscopic investigations, accurate optical clocks for timekeeping and phase
stability for interferometry. The limiting factor to the frequency stability of state-of-the-art laser stabilization is
frequency uncertainty as a result from variations in the length of the cavity used as a reference, due to Brownian
motion of the atoms forming the mirrors. One way to mitigate this issue is to extend the cavity, thereby reducing
the relative length uncertainty. This thesis describes a laser frequency reference which was built out of a plane
mirror cavity surrounding a crystal of yttrium orthosilicate doped with rare-earth ions. These ions have narrow
optical transitions and long lived hyperfine transitions, which make them ideal for inducing strong dispersion. By
optically pumping a frequency region in the absorption profile of europium ions in yttrium orthosilicate, narrow
and semi-permanent spectral transparency windows were created. This absorption structure causes a region of
strong linear dispersion, where light pulses move at a rate 5 · 105 times slower than in vacuum. Mirrors deposited
on the faces of this crystal form a cavity which acts as a highly stable frequency reference, where the dispersion can
compensate any variations in length. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
supervisor
opponent
  • Sr. Lect. Afzelius, Mikael, University of Geneva, Switzerland.
organization
publishing date
type
Thesis
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Fysicumarkivet A:2024: Gustavsson
in
Lund Reports on Atomic Physics
issue
602
publisher
Department of Physics, Lund University
defense location
Lecture Hall Rydbergsalen, Department of Physics, Professorsgatan 1, Faculty of Engineering LTH, Lund University, Lund.
defense date
2024-09-27 13:15:00
ISSN
0281-2762
ISBN
978-91-8104-151-4
978-91-8104-152-4
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
053debdb-005c-4c27-baa2-1727e8d85d40
date added to LUP
2024-09-02 10:22:33
date last changed
2025-04-04 15:05:50
@phdthesis{053debdb-005c-4c27-baa2-1727e8d85d40,
  abstract     = {{Laser frequency stabilization is a necessary component in many modern technologies and physics experiments,<br/>providing spectral resolution for spectroscopic investigations, accurate optical clocks for timekeeping and phase<br/>stability for interferometry. The limiting factor to the frequency stability of state-of-the-art laser stabilization is<br/>frequency uncertainty as a result from variations in the length of the cavity used as a reference, due to Brownian<br/>motion of the atoms forming the mirrors. One way to mitigate this issue is to extend the cavity, thereby reducing<br/>the relative length uncertainty. This thesis describes a laser frequency reference which was built out of a plane<br/>mirror cavity surrounding a crystal of yttrium orthosilicate doped with rare-earth ions. These ions have narrow<br/>optical transitions and long lived hyperfine transitions, which make them ideal for inducing strong dispersion. By<br/>optically pumping a frequency region in the absorption profile of europium ions in yttrium orthosilicate, narrow<br/>and semi-permanent spectral transparency windows were created. This absorption structure causes a region of<br/>strong linear dispersion, where light pulses move at a rate 5 · 105 times slower than in vacuum. Mirrors deposited<br/>on the faces of this crystal form a cavity which acts as a highly stable frequency reference, where the dispersion can<br/>compensate any variations in length.}},
  author       = {{Gustavsson, David}},
  isbn         = {{978-91-8104-151-4}},
  issn         = {{0281-2762}},
  keywords     = {{Fysicumarkivet A:2024: Gustavsson}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{602}},
  publisher    = {{Department of Physics, Lund University}},
  school       = {{Lund University}},
  series       = {{Lund Reports on Atomic Physics}},
  title        = {{Laser Frequency Stabilization Using a Slow Light Cavity}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/194370731/thesis.pdf}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}