Hannover 2013 – scientific programme
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Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik
Q 10: Precision measurements and metrology II
Q 10.5: Talk
Monday, March 18, 2013, 15:15–15:30, F 128
Compact mode-locked diode laser system for highly accurate frequency comparisons — •Heike Christopher1,2, Evgeny Kovalchuk1, Achim Peters1,2, and the LASUS Team1,2,3,4 — 1Institut für Physik, HU Berlin — 2Ferdinand-Braun-Insitut, Leibniz-Institut für Höchstfrequenztechnik Berlin — 3Institut für Quantenoptik, LU Hannover — 4Institut für Laserphysik, Universität Hamburg
We have developed a compact mode-locked diode laser system designed to generate an optical frequency comb spanning the wavelength range from 767 nm to 780 nm. It will thus allow highly accurate frequency comparisons in microgravity experiments testing the Einstein equivalence principle (EEP) for Rubidium and Potassium quantum gases.
The passively mode-locked semiconductor laser system is configured as an extended-cavity laser, allowing for high flexibility in optimizing performance parameters to match the application requirements. The intra-cavity output of the two-section ridge-waveguide (RW) laser diode, consisting of a short saturable absorber and a long gain section, is collimated and reflected by a dielectric mirror. The group velocity dispersion (GVD) of this mirror can be adjusted to provide optimal performance by compensating the laser diode dispersion. Here we present the current status of our work and discuss options for further improvements.
This project is supported by the German Space Agency DLR with funds provided by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi) under grant number DLR 50WM1237-1240.