Optical Frequency Metrology of an Iodine-Stabilized He-Ne Laser Using the Frequency Comb of a Quantum-Interference-Stabilized Mode-Locked Laser
Smith, R.P.; Roos, P.A.; Wahlstrand, J.K.; Pipis, J.A.; Rivas, M.B.; Cundiff, S.T.
Journal of Research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology 112(6): 289-296
2007
ISSN/ISBN: 1044-677X PMID: 27110472 Accession: 058464848
We perform optical frequency metrology of an iodine-stabilized He-Ne laser using a mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser frequency comb that is stabilized using quantum interference of photocurrents in a semiconductor. Using this technique, we demonstrate carrier-envelope offset frequency fluctuations of less than 5 mHz using a 1 s gate time. With the resulting stable frequency comb, we measure the optical frequency of the iodine transition [(127)I2 R(127) 11-5 i component] to be 473 612 214 712.96 ± 0.66 kHz, well within the uncertainty of the CIPM recommended value. The stability of the quantum interference technique is high enough such that it does not limit the measurements.