Abstract

We have investigated an ytterbium-doped distributed-feedback fiber master oscillator power amplifier system emitting $1\mathrm{W}$ and its suitability for the space-borne interferometric gravitational-wave detector Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA). For this purpose we measured the laser system’s free-running frequency noise, characterized its frequency actuator, and implemented a robust frequency stabilization. Up to $100\mathrm{Hz}$ Fourier frequency the free-running frequency, noise was comparable to that of a nonplanar ring oscillator. The first resonance of the actuator was at $32\mathrm{kHz}$ with a quality factor of 26 and a delay of $20\mu \mathrm{s}$. The frequency lock to a thermally shielded Fabry–Perot cavity was stable over many hours and fulfilled the LISA requirements.

© 2009 Optical Society of America

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