Phase noise transfer in resonant optical cavities

Abstract

We study theoretically and experimentally the field circulating in a resonant optical cavity when the phase of the incident field and the length of the cavity exhibit fluctuations about their mean values. With a simple model we derive transfer functions which relate the spectral density of phase noise of both the input field and the cavity length to that of the circulating field. In agreement with the standard steady state result, we find that phase noise in the incident field is low pass filtered by the cavity. Cavity length fluctuations are found to be high pass filtered in their transfer to the circulating field. These results are used to present a control loop model of the cavity-laser system. We verify the model experimentally with a Pound–Drever–Hall discriminator and apply it to a discussion of the stability of a frequency reference at 532 nm.

A Compact Light Source: Design and Technical Feasibility Study of a Laser-Electron Storage Ring X-Ray Source

“…This level of noise suppression is not necessary for driving an external enhancement cavity, however. An estimate of the required frequency stability of the drive laser can be derived from the coupled oscillator (Adler) equations [7], but in general is a more complicated function of the residual laser spectral noise (for example Fig. 5.7 pg.…”

Effect of Phase Noise on Parametric Instabilities

“…Phase noise is of great interest because of its importance in various processes: vibratory excitation of gear systems [7], phase noise transfer in optical cavities, or limitation of the range of optical communication systems [8]. Parametric devices are phase sensitive [9].…”

Tunable visible frequency combs from a Yb-fiber-laser-pumped optical parametric oscillator

“…To measure the pump → 2i, 2s phase modulation transfer functions, we apply sinusoidal phase modulation to the pump via EOM1 and record the modulation strength transferred to the 2s and 2i combs via the modulation sideband strength observed in the PDH error signal, similarly to [54]. The doubled signal and idler data is then divided by the the pump phase modulation strength measured the same way.…”