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$2\cdot 10^{-13}$ fractional laser frequency stability with a 7-cm unequal-arm Mach-Zehnder interferometer
- Source :
- Phys. Rev. Applied 20, 024078 (2023)
- Publication Year :
- 2023
-
Abstract
- To achieve sub-picometer sensitivities in the millihertz band, laser interferometric inertial sensors rely on some form of reduction of the laser frequency noise, typically by locking the laser to a stable frequency reference, such as the narrow-linewidth resonance of an ultra-stable optical cavity or an atomic or molecular transition. In this paper we report on a compact laser frequency stabilization technique based on an unequal-arm Mach-Zehnder interferometer that is sub-nanometer stable at $10\,\mu$Hz, sub-picometer at $0.5\,$mHz, and reaches a noise floor of $7\,\mathrm{fm}/\!\sqrt{\mathrm{Hz}}$ at 1 Hz. The interferometer is used in conjunction with a DC servo to stabilize the frequency of a laser down to a fractional instability below $4 \times 10^{-13}$ at averaging times from 0.1 to 100 seconds. The technique offers a wide operating range, does not rely on complex lock acquisition procedures, and can be readily integrated as part of the optical bench in future gravity missions.<br />Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures
- Subjects :
- Physics - Optics
Physics - Instrumentation and Detectors
Subjects
Details
- Database :
- arXiv
- Journal :
- Phys. Rev. Applied 20, 024078 (2023)
- Publication Type :
- Report
- Accession number :
- edsarx.2308.11325
- Document Type :
- Working Paper
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevApplied.20.024078