A basic introduction to ultrastable optical cavities for laser stabilization

Abstract

We give a simple introduction to the properties and use of ultrastable optical cavities, which are increasingly common in atomic and molecular physics laboratories for stabilizing the frequency of lasers to linewidths at the kHz level or below. Although the physics of Fabry-Perot interferometers is part of standard optics curricula, the specificities of ultrastable optical cavities, such as their high finesse, fixed length, and the need to operate under vacuum, can make their use appear relatively challenging to newcomers. Our aim in this work is to bridge the gap between generic knowledge about Fabry-Perot resonators and the specialized literature about ultrastable cavities. The intended audience includes students setting up an ultrastable cavity in a research laboratory for the first time and instructors designing advanced laboratory courses on optics and laser stabilization techniques.

arXiv comment10 pages, 8 figures, tutorial article to appear in Am. J . Phys

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• Advanced LIGO
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• Direct measurement of the van der Waals interaction between two Rydberg atoms
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Cited by in corpus (7)

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• Integrating high-precision and fringe-scale displacement sensing using heterodyne cavity-tracking
• Errors in PDH offset locking due to spurious spectral features
• Autler-Townes spectroscopy of a Rydberg ladder
• Stabilizing an optical cavity containing a bulk diamond crystal at millikelvin temperatures in a cryogen-free dilution refrigerator