Multi-input digital frequency stabilization of monolithic lasers

  • Authors:
  • Enrico Canuto;Andrea Rolino

  • Affiliations:
  • Politecnico di Torino, Dipartimento di Automatica e Informatica, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy;Politecnico di Torino, Dipartimento di Automatica e Informatica, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy

  • Venue:
  • Automatica (Journal of IFAC)
  • Year:
  • 2004

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Abstract

A digital control application for the frequency stabilization of optical frequency standards is presented. The standard employed is a monolithic neodymium in yttrium aluminum garnet laser locked to an iodine frequency reference. Traditionally, laser frequency is locked to the reference through analogue loops, which may require a lengthy set-up and a manual search for the reference to which to lock the source. Digital control avoids these steps and provides complete and robust instrument automation. The theory and results of a Digital Control Unit (DCU) designed to improve and facilitate stability set-up and performance are presented. The DCU elaborates frequency error signal between laser and reference at 10kHz so as to co-ordinate a set of three frequency actuators (temperature servo, piezo-electric ceramics, acousto-optic modulator) capable of compensating frequency drifts below 1 part per 10^1^2 under normal environmental conditions.