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We demonstrate a compact and low-cost all-fiber-based locking setup for frequency-noise suppression of a 420 nm external-cavity diode laser. Frequency noise reduction in the 100 Hz to 800 kHz range is demonstrated up to 40 dB associated with a linewidth narrowing from 850 kHz to 20 kHz for 10 ms integration time. This simple locking scheme might be implemented for a large range of wavelengths and can be integrated on a small footprint for embedded applications requiring narrow linewidth blue laser diodes.

We describe a fiber ring cavity for transferring frequency stability from a metrological optical reference at 1542 nm to tunable lasers covering 100 nm around 1.55 µm and show a stability transfer to the 10−15 level in relative value. The optical length of the ring is controlled by two actuators: a cylindrical piezoelectric tube (PZT) actuator on which a portion of the fiber is coiled and glued for fast corrections (vibrations) acting on the length of the fiber, and a Peltier module for slow corrections acting on its temperature. We characterize the stability transfer and analyze the limitations imposed by two critical effects in the setup: Brillouin backscattering and the polarization modulation generated by the electro-optic modulators (EOMs) used in the error signal detection scheme. We show that it is possible to reduce the impact of these limitations to a level below the detection threshold imposed by the servo noise. We also show that in the long term, the limitation to the stability transfer is a thermal sensitivity of –550 Hz/K/nm which could be reduced by active control of the ambient temperature.

We present an experimental investigation of the stability limits specific to optical frequency standards using fiber optic architecture and semiconductor lasers. A compact setup composed of a semiconductor laser frequency-locked onto an acetylene transition detected in saturated absorption has been implemented using only fiber optic components. Fiber optic technology allows compact and reliable solutions for various applications. However, for high sensitivity and stability applications such as metrology, residual reflections induced by optical index inhomogeneities in connectors and fiber-coupled components leading to spurious interference significantly limit performance. We have examined the origin of the interference fringes superimposed on the detected signal and the limitations they cause to the frequency stability of the reference. The effects of temperature and beam power fluctuations are also examined. Our results show that the frequency stability is limited in the 10 − 13 range by the effect of interference fringes due to use of fiber components.

International audience; We report on telecom laser frequency stabilization to narrow iodine hyperfine line in the green range of the optical domain, after a frequency tripling process using two nonlinear PPLN crystals. We have generated up to 300 mW optical power in the green (P), from 800 mW of infrared power (P.). This result corresponds to an optical conversion efficiency  P/P ~ 36 %. To our knowledge, this is the best value ever demonstrated for a CW frequency tripling process. We have used a narrow linewidth iodine hyperfine line (component a1 of the 127I2 R 35 (44-0) line) to stabilize the IR laser yielding to frequency stability of 4.8x10-14-1/2 with a minimum value of 6x10-15 reached after 50 s of integration time. The whole optical setup is very compact and mostly optically fibered. This approach opens the way for efficient and elegant architecture development for space applications as one of several potential uses.

We implement and characterize an optical narrowband amplifier based on stimulated Brillouin scattering with pump-to-signal relative frequency fluctuations overcome thanks to an active pump tracking. We achieve a precise characterization of this amplifier in terms of gain and noise degradation (noise figure). The performances of this stable selective amplification are compared to those of a conventional erbium-doped fiber amplifier in order to highlight the interest of the Brillouin amplification solution for active narrow optical filtering with a bandpass of 10 MHz. Thanks to the simple optoelectronic pump-to-signal tracking, the Brillouin active filter appears as a stable and reliable solution for narrowband optical processing in the coherent optical communication context and optical sensor applications.

We report on frequency tripling of CW-Telecom laser diode using two cascaded PPLN ridge nonlinear crystals, both used in single-pass configuration. All optical components used for this development are fibered, leading to a very compact and easy to use optical setup. We have generated up to 290 mW optical power in the green range, from 800 mW only of infrared power around 1.54 µm. This result corresponds to an optical conversion efficiency P 3ω /P ω > 36 %. To our knowledge, this is best value ever demonstrated up today for a CW-third harmonic generation in single-pass configuration. This frequency tripling experimental setup was tested over more than 2 years of continuous operation, without any interruption. The compactness and the reliability of our device make it very suitable as a transportable optical oscillator. In particular, it paves the way for embedded applications thanks to the high level of long-term stability of the optical alignments.

The possibilities of beam intensity noise rejection offered by a narrow-band closed opto-electronic loop system are studied. The noise added to the beam by the acousto-optic modulator used as the actuator is computed. The intensity noise of the in-loop beam can be found below the standard quantum limit but the extracted beam noise is always above this limit. For an input beam with a small excess noise, an increase of the noise can be observed. A simple model of the loop based on the noise transfer functions approach is used for the calculation of the noise power of beam intensities and photocurrents. The behavior of the system and the limitations of noise rejection are analyzed.

Optical frequency references for laser standards based on molecular iodine absorption cells represent one of the most used tool for frequency stabilization of lasers operating in a visible spectral range. In the industry oriented laser measurements and similar laser interferometry applications performed at atmospheric conditions, a refractive index of air plays a role of main uncertainty contributor. In these cases there is no need to use technologically complicated and expensive iodine references made of pure fused silica with precise pressure control of absorpbing media. A set of iodine cells made of borosilicate glass was filled with certain amount of absorbing media to define the saturation point of iodine inside. A combination of these two approaches (pyrex material and controlled saturation pressure of iodine) allows us to simplify the laser stabilization setup (there is no need of additional iodine pressure level control) and reduce the overall reference’s costs with ensuring of sufficient frequency stability of the system at the same time. Spectral properties of manufactured cells were tested by hyperfine transitions linewidth measurement and comparison with results from traditional fused silica cells was done to investigate the long-term iodine purity inside the references. As the transitions linewidth method shows a very high sensitivity to iodine purity level, this method is proposed to be an alternative approach in investigation of contamination in iodine absorption cells where traditionally used techniques - laser induced fluorescence (LIF) and absolute frequency shifts measurement - can not be used.

The main aim of this work is oriented towards preparation and spectral properties evaluation of optical frequency references for laser standards – molecular iodine cells. These references represent the crucial part of setups for practical realization of the meter unit – highly stable laser standards. Furthermore, not only in the most precise laboratory instruments, but also in less demanding interferometric measuring setups the frequency stabilization of the lasers throught the absorption in suitable media ensure the direct traceability to the fundamental standard of length. A set of absorption cells filled with different amounts of molecular iodine (different saturation pressure point of absorption media) was prepared and an agreement between expected and resulting spectral properties of these cells was observed and evaluated. The usage of borosilicate glass instead of common fused silica as a material for cells bodies represents an approach to simplify the manufacturing technology process and also reduces the overall cell costs. A great care must be taken to control/avoid the risk of absorption media contamination by impurities releasing from the cell walls. We introduce an iodine purity and spectral properties evaluation method based on measurement of linewidth of the hyperfine transitions. The proposed method was used for verification of great iodine purity of manufactured cells by comparison of spectral properties with cells traditionally made of fused silica glass with well known iodine purity. The results confirmed a great potential of proposed approaches.

We present the results of measurement and evaluation of spectral properties of iodine absorption cells filled at certain saturation pressure. A set of cells made of borosilicate glass instead of common fused silica was tested for their spectral properties in greater detail with special care for the long-term development of the absorption media purity. The results were compared with standard fused silica cells and the high quality of iodine was verified. A measurement method based on an approach relying on measurement of linewidth of the hyperfine transitions is proposed as a novel technique for iodine cell absorption media purity evaluation. A potential application in laser metrology of length is also discussed.

International audience; The absolute frequencies of the hyperfine components of the R(26) 62-0 transition in molecular iodine at 501.7 nm are measured for the first time with an optical clockwork based on a femtosecond laser frequency comb generator. The set-up is composed of an Ar+ laser locked to a hyperfine component of the R(26) 62-0 transition detected in a continuously pumped low-pressure cell (0.33 Pa). The detected resonances show a linewidth of 45 kHz (half-width at half-maximum). The uncertainty of the frequency measurement is estimated to be 250 Hz.