Frequency stabilization of a monolithic Nd:YAG ring laser by controlling the power of the laser-diode pump source

Abstract

The frequency of a 700mW monolithic non-planar Nd:YAG ring laser (NPRO) depends with a large coupling coefficient (some MHz/mW) on the power of its laser-diode pump source. Using this effect we demonstrate the frequency stabilization of an NPRO to a frequency reference by feeding back to the current of its pump diodes. We achieved an error point frequency noise smaller than 1mHz/sqrt(Hz), and simultaneously a reduction of the power noise of the NPRO by 10dB without an additional power stabilization feed-back system.

accepted for publication by Optics Letters