Characterization of a Novel and Widely-Tunable Yb:KYF4 Laser for Optical Frequency Metrology

Author

Galzerano, G. ; Laporta, P. ; Sani, E. ; Bonelli, L. ; Toncelli, A. ; Tonelli, M. ; Norgia, M. ; Pesatori, A. ; Svelto, C.

Author_Institution

Politecnico di Milano, Milan

fYear

2007

fDate

1-3 May 2007

Firstpage

1

Lastpage

4

Abstract

A longitudinally pumped, widely tunable, solid state Yb:KYF4 laser was developed with special design for applications to optical frequency metrology and absolute frequency stabilization and for LIDAR measurements in the atmosphere. The KYF crystalline host, combined with efficient diode pumping, allows for wide wavelength tunability at around 1.03 mum. The novel laser source is being thoroughly characterized in terms of output power and beam quality, amplitude noise, wavelength tunability, and free running frequency stability. The possibility of achieving high quality radiation at 0.51 mum, by frequency doubling in a PPKTP crystal, opens the way to the development a new optical frequency standard locked on the I₂ molecule.

Keywords

laser noise; laser tuning; measurement by laser beam; optical harmonic generation; optical pumping; solid lasers; LIDAR; absolute frequency stabilization; amplitude noise; atmosphere; beam quality; diode pumping; free running frequency stability; frequency doubling; high quality radiation; optical frequency metrology; solid state laser; wide wavelength tunability; Frequency; Laser excitation; Laser stability; Metrology; Optical harmonic generation; Optical noise; Optical pumping; Pump lasers; Solid state circuits; Tunable circuits and devices; frequency standard; laser characterization; optical measurements; optical metrology; spectroscopy;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Instrumentation and Measurement Technology Conference Proceedings, 2007. IMTC 2007. IEEE

Conference_Location

Warsaw

ISSN

1091-5281

Print_ISBN

1-4244-0588-2

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/IMTC.2007.379262

Filename

4258421