Frequency Stabilization of a Laser Diode with Use of Light-Induced Birefringence in an Atomic Vapor

Abstract

We present a simple modulation-free technique to stabilize a laser frequency to the Doppler-free spectra of an atomic vapor. Polarization spectroscopy with use of a balanced polarimeter allows us to obtain a background-free dispersion signal suitable for high-speed and robust frequency stabilization. We employed the method to the 5S(1/2) F = 2 --> 5P(3/2) F' = 3 transition of 87Rb atoms. The achieved feedback bandwidth was approximately 100 kHz, and an efficient suppression of the frequency noise in a laboratory environment was attained.

Alkali-vapor magnetic resonance driven by fictitious radiofrequency fields

“…A zero-order quarter-wave plate before the magnetic shield ensures circularly polarized light. The pump frequency is locked to the D1 F = 3 → F = 4 transition by a dichroic atomic vapor laser lock (DAVLL) [28][29][30]. Since we observe a magnetic resonance within the F = 4 manifold, the probe is tuned to the D2 F = 4 → F = 5 transition, stabilized by a seperate DAVLL.…”

Spectral measurement of the caesium D2 line with a tunable heterodyne interferometer

“…The contribution of the intensity of the probe light on PD 2 is here given up to second-order from Ref. [15] as:…”

Analytical Study of Polarization Spectroscopy for the Jg=0 → Je=1 Transition

“…PS has been realized for many kinds of atoms such as Li [2], Rb [3][4][5][6], Cs [6,7], K [8], He [9], and Sr [10]. In the case of all the atoms except for Sr, the PS spectra result from three operating mechanisms such as Zeeman and hyperfine optical pumping and the saturation effect.…”