Frequency stabilization of a semiconductor laser using. This method is used to stabilize laser frequencies and reduce linewidths by a factor of from 20 mhz to approximately 20 khz. In most demonstrations, semiconductor saturable absorber mirrors have. Pdf allelectronic frequency stabilization of a dfb laser diode. Highly coherent semiconductor lasers artech house, boston. Stabilization and frequency control of a dfb laser with a. Semiconductor laser diode outline this student project deals with the exam question semiconductor laser diode and covers the following questions. Nearly alloptical frequencystabilization of a laser diode on the 120 khz intercombination line of ba author links open overlay panel r loemie a. The junction voltage was thus controlled while operating.
Frequency stabilization of semiconductor laser diodes artech. As a result, we got high frequency stability without any spectrum broadening caused by the modulation. Laser diode circuitry that controls the laser diode temperature as a function of laser diode current. A laser diode, ld, injection laser diode ild, or diode laser is a semiconductor device similar to a lightemitting diode in which a diode pumped directly with electrical current can create lasing conditions at the diode s junction 3 laser diodes can directly convert electrical energy. Frequency stabilization of distributedfeedback laser. A broad range of experimental setups employ an 25 atomic vapor cell for locking the laser frequency. Petermann, laser diode modulation and noise, kluwer academic, 1991 12. Tunable external cavity diode lasers world scientific. Nearly alloptical frequency stabilization of a laser diode on the 120 khz intercombination line of ba author links open overlay panel r loemie a. Three promising methods of improving temporal coherence in semiconductor lasers. Frequency stabilization of laser diode light sources in.
This reference describes in detail the critical issue of frequency stabilization of semiconductor laser diodes, with emphasis on the practical frequency stabilization schemes of laser diodes and laser modules, and their applications to optical transmission systems, optical measurements, photonics switching systems, and more. Frequency stabilization of semiconductor lasers by resonant. This method modulates the reference frequency of the stabilization system by modulating the magnetic field applied to the rb absorption cell, instead of the oscillation frequency of the laser diode. Stabilizing diode lasers to highfinesse cavities sciencedirect. Compact stabilized semiconductor laser for frequency metrology. The gain medium is a semiconductor optical amplifier and modelocking was achieved. Modulation characteristics of semiconductor lasers mod. Passive frequency and intensity stabilization of extended.
Frequency comb stabilization of ultrafast lasers by opto. The junction voltage was thus controlled while operating at fixed dc injection current. Sinusoidal frequency modulation on a laser diode ld is evaluated. Drullinger, frequency stabilization of semiconductor lasers by resonant optical feedback opt. Semiconductor diode devices offer an important alternative to widely known and used heliumneongas hene lasers.
This informationpacked reference describes in detail the critical issue of frequency stabilization of semiconductor laser diodes, with emphasis on the practical frequency stabilization schemes of laser diodes and laser modules, and their applications to optical transmission systems, optical measurements, photonics switching systems, and more. Osa frequency stabilization of a semiconductor laser by. Noise equivalent circuit of a semiconductor laser diode christoph harder, joseph katz, s. Linewidth reduction and frequency stabilization of semiconductor lasers using dispersive losses in an atomic vapor. External cavity diode laser setup with two interference filters arxiv. This method this method is used to stabilize laser frequencies and reduce linewidths by a factor of from 20 mhz to approximately 20 khz. Efficiencyoptimized monolithic frequency stabilization of. Here we present what we believe to be the first ceo frequency stabilization of an ultrafast semiconductor disk laser sdl. Pdf frequency stabilization of a laser diode by means of. Pdf frequency stabilisation of a gaaias semiconductor diode. Pdf subhertz frequency stabilization of a commercial diode. Suzuki m and yamagushi s 1988 frequency stabilization of a gaas semiconductor laser by use of the opticaloptical doubleresonance effect of the dopplerfree spectrum of the rb di line ieee j. Pdf a laser diodes junction voltage is a sensitive measure of its temperature and can be used in a thermal control feedback loop. Frequency stabilisation of a gaalas semiconductor diode laser to an absorption line of water vapour at 822 nm.
Carrierenvelope offset frequency stabilization of a. Ecdls use semiconductor diode lasers in an external cavity with dispersive feedback, often from a di. Shacham, and amnon yariv, fellow, ieee abstmctthe noise equivalent circuit of a semiconductor laser diode is derived from the rate equations including langevin noise sources. The theory of the external methods of the frequency stabilization and the comparison of these methods is presented. Accurate measurement of the laser frequency stability is also often required as an experimental parameter. Ieee journal of noise equivalent circuit of a semiconductor. Frequency stabilization o f a laser diode by means of an optical wedge etalon article pdf available in measurement science and technology 233. A gratingexternalcavity 852 nm diode laser is frequencystabilized to cesium 6 2s12 f 46 2p32 f 4, 5 crossover by this modulationfree locking scheme. Demonstration of efficient coupling of an injection locked laser array single lobe output into a single mode optical fiber. We discuss the stability of a synthetic wavelength that could be achieved by stabilizing two lasers independently on two different watervapor absorption lines. One method was choosed and this method was realized for 760 and 1540 nm wavelength laser diodes. Frequency stabilization of an extended cavity semiconductor.
In order to extend the capabilities of this photonic device as a useful tool in precision optical frequency metrology such as laser locking and stabilization systems 30 3233, optical gyroscopes for rotation sensing, optical resonators 34, quantum cavity electrody namics. An optical frequency comb phaselocked on an iodine frequency stabilized diode laser at 634 nm is constructed to transfer the accuracy and stability from the optical domain to the radio frequency. Osa frequency stabilization of an algaas laser diode by. Here, we use the dc input of the laser controller to control the diode current. We report a method to stabilize the frequency of a laser diode for a long time by means of four feedback loops including a digital feedback circuit.
Us5754574a temperature correction circuit for wavelength. The drift of the laser frequency caused by spectral aging of the diode laser is about 3 mhzh. Frequency stabilization and phase locking of elect laser diodes and laser arrays l. Allelectronic frequency stabilization of a dfb laser diode a. Key achievements completed stabilization and locking of the generated optical frequency combs to an intracavity etalon. In both cases, the use of the proper modulation frequency and amplitude improved frequency stability, overall, attaining 2. Published 25 january 2012 2012 iop publishing ltd measurement science and technology, volume 23, number 3. Frequency stabilization of semiconductor laser diodes. Pdf a laser diode s junction voltage is a sensitive measure of its temperature and can be used in a thermal control feedback loop. Sinusoidal frequency modulation on laser diode for frequency. In this method was used the frequency stabilization based on the linear absorption to the spectral lines of the gases. Fox united states department of commerce, national institute of standards and technology, boulder, colorado 3. The frequency drift can be reduced to below 10 mhz. Frequency stabilization of semiconductor lasers request pdf.
Frequency stabilization of semiconductor laser diodes frequency stabilization of semiconductor laser diodes wood, roger m. They are the development of novel laser devices, a technique of optical feedback and a technique of electrical feedback. We show that it is possible to use watervapor absorption lines for frequency stabilization by locking a semiconductor laser to the 791nm 379thz absorption line. To compensate for the temperature dependence of the laser s internal resistance, we have measured the dynamic resistance. Alloptical frequency stabilization and linewidth reduction of distributed feedback diode lasers by polarization rotated optical feedback. On one side, the medium modulation range provides a higher correction depth. A laser diodes junction voltage is a sensitive measure of its temperature and can. Semiconductor lasers and light emitting diodes 1222 for a 250 m long semiconductor laser and an effective index of 3.
As soon as laser diodes came into being, their disadvantages compared to other types of lasers were as obvious as their advantages. Frequency stabilization of an extendedcavity semiconductor. The main discussion in this paper is focused on the technique of electrical feedback. Applications of tunable external cavity diode lasers. We report a 626nm, single frequency generation based on laser diodes operated near room temperature and the secondharmonic generation with an output power of 2 mw at 3 nm. When tuning the laser frequency of a standard offtheshelf single section semiconductor laser by modulating the injection current, an inversion in the fm response occurs at a frequency that is typically on the order of one to a few mhz. Frequency stabilization of a diode laser to dopplerfree spectrum of molecular iodine at 633 nm.
Pdf linewidth reduction and frequency stabilization of. Stabilizing diode lasers to h ighfi n esse cavltl es richard w. The laser is stabilized to a line in the tellurium spectrum via saturation spec troscopy, and singlefrequency operation for a duration of two days is demonstrated by. If a laser diode is directly modulated one obtains a modulation of the optical power and also a modulation of the optical frequency. Sep 26, 2002 we present a technique to stabilize in an atomic transition the chirping frequency of a narrowband semiconductor diode laser. A fundamental single frequency laser at 626 nm consists of an externalcavity diode laser and a tapered semiconductor amplifier with 200 mw output. Frequency stabilization of laser diodes is of vital importance for the exploitation of optical frequency division multiplexing coherent transmission systems and highresolution optical measurement application. Semiconductor optoelectronics farhan rana, cornell university p p p p np n v the number of photons leaving the cavity from the mirrors is therefore, p p p o p p o n n v the output power p of the laser is.
Stabilizing diode lasers to h ighfi n esse cavltl es fox. Majumder physics department, williams college, williamstown, massachusetts 01267, usa. We tune the current and or the temperature of the laser to correct its frequency. The theoretical limit of frequency stability and recent experimental results are.
Wavelength stabilization improves laser diode efficiency and brightness onchip wavelength stabilization technology for highpower laser diodes operating between 700 and 2000 nm brings an accurate and narrow spectral width that is locked over a wide temperature range, enabling new laser diode applications. Stabilizing diode lasers to h ighfi n esse cavltl es. A laser diode s junction voltage is a sensitive measure of its temperature and can be used in a thermal control feedback loop. Oscillation frequency stabilization of a semiconductor laser. Frequency stabilization of tunable external cavity diode lasers. Stable optical frequency comb locking was achieved for periods of hours. The wavelength spacing of the longitudinal modes varies slowly, and if the laser operates at approximately 1550 nm, the longitudinal modes are separated by about 1. So we devised two stabilization methods without any direct modulation, which use the magnetooptical effects called the zeeman and the faraday effects, and stabilized the oscillation frequency of the semiconductor laser.
Ep0618653a2 frequency stabilization method of semiconductor. Besides, without sacri ficing the frequency stability, a tunable frequency range of 0. The stability was measured compared with the reference henei2 laser system, whereas the semiconductor laser was locked on components of the p33 63 transition close enough to the. The theoretical limit of frequency stability and recent experimental results are presented with. I, by modulating the injection current and measuring the demodulated voltage. Efficiencyoptimized monolithic frequency stabilization of highpower diode lasers. A driving current, a forward voltage and an output light power of the laser mounted on a heat sink is detected. Frequency stabilization of a laser diode by means of an optical wedge etalon. These values are good enough for heterodynetype optical communication systems. External cavity diode lasers ecdls are a common example of such narrow linewidth lasers 1.
Hollberg national institute of standards and technology, boulder, colorado, usa 1. Moreover, we discuss requirements and design guidelines for oom chips. The nonlinear laser equations can easily be solved. Changes in the spectral output of the laser diode directly caused by adjustments to the operating current of the laser diode are offset by corresponding changes in the diode temperature. High frequency stability semiconductor laser sources at 760 nm wavelength bretislav mikel, zdenek buchta, josef lazar and ondrej cip coherence optics institute of scientific instruments, ascr v. For measurement of frequency stabilization of the 2. Over an external temperature range of 15c to 35c, this stabilised the centre frequency wavelength of a 1651 nm dfb laser diode with a residual mean frequency shift of 60 mhz 0. A frequency stabilization method of a semiconductor laser is provided. Submegahertz frequency stabilization of a diode laser by. With simple optical geometries a separate resonant fabryperot cavity can serve as an optical feedback element that forces a semiconductor laser automatically to lock its frequency optically to the cavity resonance. The technology incorporates semiconductor laser diodes tiny electronic microchips that operate as lasers. In soas photons were confined in the dimensions transverse to the. Likewise, even though the power is not actively stabilized, the.
Frequency stabilization in semiconductor lasers springerlink. By placing the laser system in a pressureproof and temperaturecontrolled housing, a relative frequency stability of better than 10. The optimized laser linewidth achieved with this approach is on the order of tens of khz in the common external cavity diode lasers used in littman or littrow con gurations. The technique is demonstrated to chirpcool 85rb atoms used for loadin.
Describe how a semiconductor laser diode works what determines the frequency that is emitted. Osa carrierenvelope offset frequency stabilization of a. An algaas laser diode slave laser has been frequency locked to a fabryperot interferometer which is locked to a diode laser master laser beam frequency locked to the d2 line of a cs atomic beam. Pdf frequency stabilisation of a gaalas semiconductor. Frequency noise characterisation of narrow linewidth diode. A laser diode, ld, injection laser diode ild, or diode laser is a semiconductor device similar to a lightemitting diode in which a diode pumped directly with electrical current can create lasing conditions at the diodes junction 3 laser diodes can directly convert electrical energy into light. This paper describes an automatic frequency control system for gaakas semiconductor lasers. Allelectronic frequency stabilization of a dfb laser diode article pdf available in optics express 2510.
Thus, the oscillation frequency of the semiconductor laser can be stabilized at a given value. We have stabilized the laser s oscillation frequency using the faraday effect of rb absorption lines. Pdf stabilization of diodelaser frequency to atomic. The thick solid line represents the ring cavity of the entire laser system. Frequency stabilization of semiconductor lasers by resonant optical feedback b. Surelock wavelength stabilized laser diode modules provide singlefrequency or narrowed linewidth spectral performance, stabilized temperature operating characteristics, and low power consumption delivering affordable, portable, instrument quality performance for a diversity of applications. This effectively modulates the reference frequency of the stabilization system, i. Clear evidence of phase conjugation was the observation of paired halfaxial side modes spaced at frequencies of c. Zhao and jinqiannan zhang and j\urgen stuhler and gunter schuricht and frank lison and zehuang lu and li juan wang, year2010. The motivation of this diploma thesis is to generate a frequency stabilized diode laser system which emits light at 852nm corresponding to the d2 cesium transition to someday replace the locking laser for the cavity in the cqed experiment.
Osa frequency stabilization of semiconductor lasers by. Frequency stabilization of a laser diode by means of an. Frequency stabilization of semiconductor laser diodes, optics. The linewidth of the stabilized laser diode was reduced from 5 mhz to 25 khz, approaching the limit set by the fluctuations of the pump beam for the phase conjugator. Pdf frequency stabilization of a diode laser to doppler. The biggest challenge proved to be controlling the spectral output. Le guen, spectral properties of a semiconductor laser coupled to a single mode fiber. Stabilization of diodelaser frequency to atomic transitions. Frequency locking of the fabryperot interferometer to the master laser beam frequency locked to a resonance line of an atomic beam greatly improves its longterm frequency stability. Modulation characteristics of semiconductor lasers mod see. But diode lasers are also widely used in printers, scanners, sensors, pumping of.
This reference describes the critical issue of frequency stabilization of semiconductor laser diodes, with emphasis on the practical frequency stabilization schemes of laser diodes and laser modules and their applications to optical transmission systems, optical measurements and more. Krainak2 1department of astronomy, university of maryland, college park, maryland, 20742, usa 2nasa goddard space flight center, greenbelt, maryland, 20771, usa. High frequency stability semiconductor laser sources at 760. Frequency tracking and stabilization of a tunable dual. Carrierenvelope offset frequency stabilization of a gigahertz semiconductor disk laser. Osa allelectronic frequency stabilization of a dfb laser diode. A frequency stabilization technique for diode lasers based on frequency shifted beams from an acoustooptic modulator mevan gunawardena, paul w. Pdf frequency stabilization of a laser diode with use of. Ecl, we employed the timegating technique previously developed by us for a set of laser diodes. Methods of frequency stabilization of semicondutor lasers core. In semiconductor optical amplifiers soas, photons multiplied via stimulated emission. Because the laser is dominated by the externalcavity modes with little influence by the laser chips own modes for operating current i. We report the stabilization of a laser diode by external phaseconjugate feedback from a broadarea laser diode.
Leveraging coherents vertically integrated semiconductor manufacturing line and operational excellence, coherents high power laser diodes set the standard for performance and reliability while ensuring superior batchtobatch consistency and overall quality. Wardlaser phase and frequency stabilization using an optical resonator. Oscillation frequency stabilization of a semiconductor. Frequency stabilization of a laser diode with use of lightinduced birefringence in an atomic vapor article pdf available in applied optics 4233. Frequency stabilization of distributedfeedback laser diodes at 1572 nm for lidar measurements of atmospheric carbon dioxide kenji numata,1,2, jeffrey r. Pdf an inexpensive gaalas single mode semiconductor diode laser operating in the 822 nm wavelength region is frequency stabilised at the line centre. Frequency stabilization of laser diodes is of vital importance for the exploitation of optical frequencydivision multiplexing coherent transmission systems and highresolution optical measurement application. Application to laser frequency stabilization wit a semiconductor lasers. Goldberg, nrl code 6572 the major accomplishments for fy 86 were.
The optically pumped sdl is passively modelocked by a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror. Suzuki, frequency stabilization of a diode laser by. Laser diodes promise stability and control laser focus world. Allelectronic frequency stabilization of a dfb laser diode. Linewidth reduction and frequency stabilization of a semiconductor laser with a. Nearly alloptical frequencystabilization of a laser. The actual frequency range over which the diode laser locks is a function of the feedback power level and the phase of the feedback light relative. Due to this the laser has to have a very narrow linewidth. A frequency stabilization technique for diode lasers based. Frequency stabilization o f a laser diode by means of an optical wedge etalon. Frequency stabilization of an ld to i 2 absorption line near 633 nm is attained a displacement measuring interferometer using the ld as light source is fabricated. This chapter discusses the issues involved in diode laser locking.