Hauke Christian Busch

Modulation-free laser frequency stabilization and detuning

We have developed a modulation-free technique for stabilizing a laser to a Doppler-free saturated absorption spectrometer without the need for phase sensitive detection. By using two acousto-optic modulators, we can lock, with variable offset, to atomic resonances. The new technique works equally well with both vapor and discharge reference cells. We demonstrate the technique using rubidium and metastable argon as references.

A rf discharge cell for saturated absorption spectroscopy of metastable argon

We have produced a rf discharge in 40Ar and used saturated absorption spectroscopy to offset lock a Ti:Sapphire laser to the absorption peak of the 43P2→43D3 cooling transition at 811 nm. We describe the procedure for fabrication of the cell and production of the discharge.