Sub-megahertz frequency stabilization of a diode 2 laser by digital laser current modulation

Abstract

Digital laser current modulation (DLCM) is a convenient laser stabilization scheme whose major advantages are simplicity and inexpensiveness of implementation. However, there is a tradeoff between the SNR of the error signal and the laser linewidth due to the direct laser frequency modulation. In this paper, we demonstrated that DLCM can reduce the FWHM linewidth of a tunable diode laser down to 500 kHz using the modulation transfer spectrum of 𝐷2 line of a Li6 atomic vapor. For this purpose, a theoretical model is provided to analyze the DLCM-based modulation transfer spectrum. From the analysis, we experimentally explored the modulation effect on the DLCM spectrum to minimize the laser linewidth. Our result shows the optimized DLCM can stabilize a diode laser into the sub-megahertz regime without requiring acousto-optic and electro-optic modulators.