Abstract
The frequency response of a unidirectional ring laser containing a linear polarizer and a weakly birefringent etalon is analyzed numerically. The data obtained indicate that by sensing the changes in the polarization state of the light that is coupled from the etalon, a suitable error signal can be derived that can be used to prevent longitudinal mode hops. This idea is verified experimentally by configuration of an erbium ring fiber laser with a nonplanar fused-fiber coupler to form the intracavity etalon. When the longitudinal mode hops are inhibited and the oscillating frequency of the fiber laser is locked to a reference confocal etalon, the resulting radiation has a linewidth of 14 kHz with an associated rms frequency jitter of 2 kHz.
© 1997 Optical Society of America
Full Article | PDF ArticleMore Like This
A. Gloag, R. J. Forster, and N. Langford
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 14(4) 895-902 (1997)
Andrew Gloag, Richard J. Forster, and Nigel Langford
Appl. Opt. 36(18) 4077-4080 (1997)
A. Gloag, N. Langford, K. McCallion, and W. Johnstone
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 13(5) 921-925 (1996)