Laser Stabilization

As atomic quantum computing and sensing demand higher operational fidelities, precise lasers are essential, maintaining fractional linewidth and frequency instability below a few parts in 100 trillion (~5×10-14). Ultra-low-expansion (ULE) cavity-stabilized lasers meet linewidth requirements but drift over time affects frequency stability. Traditional reliance on computing/sensing atoms for reference leads to downtime. We propose a dual-reference approach, where cavity-stabilized lasers sync with Vescent’s acetylene optical clock (LTS), reducing reliance on atomic corrections.

Some work requires two lasers to be locked with larger offset frequencies. In

this application note we demonstrate a method for achieving offsets of at least 43 GHz with indications that with the proper equipment the offset could be extended to 100 GHz or more.

Vescent and the Danish National Metrology Institute (DFM) announce a highly accurate user-configurable optical clock assembled entirely from their commercially available components achieving 200 femtoseconds (0.0000000000002) timing instabilities at one second and sub nanosecond holdover at one day. Using Vescent’s commercially available, market-leading optical frequency comb (OFC), the FFC-100, to down-convert the clock cycle to the RF and the wavelength-stabilized output of the DFM Stabilaser 1542e as the clock laser, this powerful combination of components (including the Vescent SLICE-FPGA-II) yields a “Box to Clock” in less than 30 minutes (including warm-up time for all three devices), which customers can purchase today in North America for an introductory price of US$199,500 with a current lead-time of 6 to 12 weeks. Vescent is the exclusive Distributor for the DFM Stabilaser 1542e in the US and Canada.

Vescent and the Danish National Metrology Institute (DFM) have demonstrated hydrogen-maser-like performance of an acetylene optical clock assembled by simple integration of the two companies’ commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) products. A 100 MHz clock output with frequency instability of 2.6x10^(-13)/√τ and a long-term instability reaching 8x10^(-15) around τ = 2,000 s was demonstrated by combining Vescent’s FFC-100 frequency comb with the DFM Stabilaser 1542ϵ optical frequency reference.

Beat note detection at 895 nm with an EOT detector

The 1 GHz rep rate of a MENHIR-1550 was stabilized.

Vescent has been awarded a $1.25M Direct-to-Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the Air Force (AFRL, WPAFB) to develop a fully stabilized, multi-gigahertz-repetition rate optical frequency comb (OFC). 

Load Size Selection and Limiting Factors of the SLICE-DHV’s Modulation Output

Locking ƒCEO of a 1 GHz mode-locked laser