Expand this Topic clickable element to expand a topic
Skip to content
Optica Publishing Group

Stabilization of laser beam alignment to an optical resonator by heterodyne detection of off-axis modes

Not Accessible

Your library or personal account may give you access

Abstract

We demonstrate a method for real time alignment of a Gaussian beam to an optical resonator. While the frequency of a source laser is stabilized to a fundamental cavity mode resonance, phase modulation sidebands are applied at the off-axis mode frequencies. Asymmetrical transmission of the sideband at the frequency of each off-axis mode produces amplitude modulated optical signals and indicates the extent of the misalignments. Phase sensitive detection of these optical signals provides the error signals which are minimized by a control system that steers the input beam. In this way, optimum coupling of an injected source beam can be maintained to the fundamental mode of the resonator. This active alignment technique has demonstrated a sensitivity to tilts of 0.01nrad/Hz and to lateral beam displacements of 0.08nm/Hz in the ~1-Hz–1-kHz frequency range. These values correspond to 2 parts in 107/Hz for both the far-field divergence angle and the beam waist size. Such performance is within a factor of 2 of the shot noise limitation of the error signal measurement for a detected power of 160 μW.

© 1990 Optical Society of America

Full Article  |  PDF Article
More Like This
Single actuator alignment control for improved frequency stability of a cavity-based optical frequency reference

Samuel T. Dawkins and André N. Luiten
Appl. Opt. 47(9) 1239-1246 (2008)

Alignment of resonant optical cavities

Dana Z. Anderson
Appl. Opt. 23(17) 2944-2949 (1984)

Analysis of alignment requirements for off-axis resonant cavity based on coupling efficiency

HongWen Hai, Sijun Fang, WenTong Fan, QiCheng Sun, Kai Zhao, Rui Zhang, BoHong Li, Jian Luo, Jie Song, YeHao Cao, XinYu Li, ZiZheng Li, Lei Fan, HongChao Zhao, and Yong Yan
Appl. Opt. 63(6) 1488-1494 (2024)

Cited By

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Cited by links are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an Optica member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Login to access Optica Member Subscription

Figures (7)

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Figure files are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an Optica member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Login to access Optica Member Subscription

Tables (1)

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Article tables are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an Optica member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Login to access Optica Member Subscription

Equations (16)

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Equations are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an Optica member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Login to access Optica Member Subscription

Select as filters


Select Topics Cancel
© Copyright 2024 | Optica Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved