Title :
Suppression of the intensity noise in a diode-pumped neodymium:YAG nonplanar ring laser
Author :
Harb, C.C. ; Gray, M.B. ; Bachor, H.A. ; Schilling, R. ; Rottengatter, P. ; Freitag, I. ; Welling, H.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Phys., Australian Nat. Univ., ACT, Australia
fDate :
12/1/1994 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
We investigate the intensity noise properties of a continuous-wave diode pumped Nd:YAG ring-laser system and present results for an active feedback loop that suppresses the relaxation oscillation noise. This system reduces the intensity noise to within 6.1 dB of the quantum noise equivalent level (which is at 1.5×10-8/√Hz for 1.5 mA) for frequencies between 10 kHz to 300 kHz and to less than 1×10-7/√Hz for frequencies between 300 Hz and 10 kHz. The technical properties of the optimized feedback system are presented. The theoretical limits of performance for the system are discussed and it is shown that the performance is within 3.1 dB of these limits. We also present data from an optical beat experiment demonstrating that the intensity control system does not introduce any new features into the frequency noise spectrum
Keywords :
laser feedback; laser noise; neodymium; optical pumping; quantum noise; ring lasers; solid lasers; YAG:Nd; YAl5O12:Nd; active feedback loop; continuous-wave diode pumped Nd:YAG ring-laser system; diode-pumped; frequency noise spectrum; intensity control system; intensity noise; intensity noise properties; neodymium:YAG nonplanar ring laser; optical beat experiment; optimized feedback system; quantum noise equivalent level; relaxation oscillation noise; technical properties; Active noise reduction; Diodes; Feedback loop; Frequency; Noise level; Noise reduction; Optical control; Optical feedback; Optical noise; Optical pumping;
Journal_Title :
Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of
