摘要
A frequency-stabilized 556-nm laser is an essential tool for experimental studies associated with ^1S0-^3p1 intercombination transition of ytterbium （Yb） atoms. A 556-nm laser light using a single-pass second harmonic generation （SHG） is obtained in a periodically poled MgO：LiNbO3 （PPLN） crystal pumped by a fiber laser at 1111.6 nm. A robust frequency stabilization method which facilitates the control of laser frequency with an accuracy better than the natural linewidth （187 kHz） of the intercombination line is developed. The short-term frequency jitter is reduced to less than 100 kHz by locking the laser to a home-made reference cavity. A slow frequency drift is sensed by the 556-nm fluorescence signal of an Yb atomic beam excited by one probe beam and is reduced to less than 50-kHz by a computer-controlled servo system. The laser can be stably locked for more than 5 h. This frequency stabilization method can be extended to other alkaline-earth-like atoms with similar weak intercombination lines.
A frequency-stabilized 556-nm laser is an essential tool for experimental studies associated with ^1S0-^3p1 intercombination transition of ytterbium （Yb） atoms. A 556-nm laser light using a single-pass second harmonic generation （SHG） is obtained in a periodically poled MgO：LiNbO3 （PPLN） crystal pumped by a fiber laser at 1111.6 nm. A robust frequency stabilization method which facilitates the control of laser frequency with an accuracy better than the natural linewidth （187 kHz） of the intercombination line is developed. The short-term frequency jitter is reduced to less than 100 kHz by locking the laser to a home-made reference cavity. A slow frequency drift is sensed by the 556-nm fluorescence signal of an Yb atomic beam excited by one probe beam and is reduced to less than 50-kHz by a computer-controlled servo system. The laser can be stably locked for more than 5 h. This frequency stabilization method can be extended to other alkaline-earth-like atoms with similar weak intercombination lines.
基金
supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 10634060 and 10904161)
the National Key Basic Research and Development Program of China (No. 2006CB921406)
