Accession Number:

ADA505521

Title:

Ultrasensitive High Resolution Laser Spectroscopy and Its Application to Optical Frequency Standards

Descriptive Note:

Corporate Author:

COLORADO UNIV AT BOULDER

Personal Author(s):

• Ye, Jun
• Ma, Long-Sheng
• Hall, John L.

Report Date:

1996-12-01

Pagination or Media Count:

16.0

Abstract:

Advanced laser stabilization techniques now permit one to lock laser frequencies onto line centers of natural atomicmolecular resonances with unprecedented precision and accuracy, leading to improved visible optical frequency standards. A novel approach of cavity-enhanced frequency modulation spectroscopy is demonstrated to enjoy a record high sensitivity 6 x 10-12 integrated absorption, working with a rich spectrum of weak molecular overtone transitions. The resultant high signal-to-noise ratio allows a NdYAG laser to be stabilized on the overtone transition at the level of 1 x 10-14 in 800 seconds. For the work of coherent optical frequency connection, we present our recent development of an optical frequency comb generator with a 3-terahertz span.

Descriptors:

• *OPTICAL PROPERTIES
• *LASERS
• *FREQUENCY STANDARDS
• MOLECULES
• SIGNAL TO NOISE RATIO
• RESONANCE
• VISIBILITY
• ATOMIC PROPERTIES
• HIGH SENSITIVITY
• HIGH RATE
• YAG LASERS
• STABILIZATION
• COHERENCE

Subject Categories:

• Lasers and Masers
• Test Facilities, Equipment and Methods

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE