Contribution of thermal noise to frequency stability of rigid optical cavity via Hertz-linewidth lasers

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Contribution of thermal noise to frequency stability of rigid optical cavity via Hertz-linewidth lasers

Mark Notcutt, Long-Sheng Ma, Andrew D. Ludlow, Seth M. Foreman, Jun Ye, and John L. Hall

Phys. Rev. A 73, 031804(R) – Published 21 March 2006

Abstract

We perform detailed studies of state-of-the-art laser stabilization to high finesse optical cavities, revealing fundamental mechanical thermal noise-related length fluctuations. We compare the frequency noise of lasers tightly locked to the resonances of a variety of rigid Fabry-Perot cavities of differing lengths and mirror substrate materials. The results are in agreement with the theoretical model proposed in K. Numata, A. Kemery, and J. Camp [Phys. Rev. Lett. 93, 250602 (2004)]. The results presented here on the fundamental limits of FP references will impact planning and construction of next generation ultrastable optical cavities.

Received 22 July 2005

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.73.031804

Authors & Affiliations

Mark Notcutt^*, Long-Sheng Ma^†, Andrew D. Ludlow^‡, Seth M. Foreman^‡, Jun Ye^‡, and John L. Hall^‡

JILA, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA
and National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA

^*Present address: Lockheed Martin Coherent Technologies, Louisville, CO; electronic address: notcutt@jilau1.colorado.edu
^†Also affiliated with BIPM, Sevres, France, and East China Normal University, Shanghai.
^‡Also affiliated with Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309.

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Vol. 73, Iss. 3 — March 2006

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