A simple and low-cost setup for part per billion level frequency stabilization and characterization of red He-Ne laser

HardwareX 14, e00421 (2023) · DOI: 10.1016/j.ohx.2023.e00421

License: CC BY 4.0.

Abstract

This work describes the frequency stabilization of a dual longitudinal mode, red (632.8 nm) He-Ne laser, implemented using an open source low-cost microcontroller (Arduino Uno) and its performance characterization using a simple interferometric method. Our studies demonstrate that frequency stability up to 0.42 MHz (3$\sigma$, 17 h) can be achieved using this setup. This simple and low-cost system can serve as an excellent part per billion level frequency reference for high-resolution spectroscopy based applications.

Figures

13 panels with data across 6 figures. Each panel page shows the plot, its columns and its files; each data.csv begins with a header naming the paper, the panel, the source, the license and the provenance route.

Fig. 1

Illustrative figure, no extractable data. Shown in the paper PDF.

Fig. 2

• panel (c): Fringe intensity (a.u) against pixel number, summed along an axis parallel to the fringes (632.8 nm input), drawn as a smoothed curve. The two dotted vertical lines mark neighbouring maxima; the FSR label and its double arrow in the print are not reproduced. data.csv
• panel (d): Position of the maxima and minima of the fringe pattern (pixel number) against fringe number: zero crossing points (blue circles) and the linear fit (dotted line). The inset of the print is hosted as a separate panel; the formula text and the arrow in the print are not reproduced. data.csv
• panel (d-inset): Inset of panel (d): the zero crossing points and the linear fit near fringe number 0, pixel number against fringe number, with a dashed horizontal line from the left edge to the fit at the zeroth fringe position. data.csv

Fig. 3

Illustrative figure, no extractable data. Shown in the paper PDF.

Fig. 4

Illustrative figure, no extractable data. Shown in the paper PDF.

Fig. 5

• panel (1): Left panel: error signal (bits) against time (s) while the tube is preheated and after the PID feedback is switched on, points joined by a line. The PID ON arrow and the preheating-time brace of the print are not reproduced. data.csv
• panel (2): Right panel: digital signal (bits) against time (s) for the stabilized laser disturbed twice by cold air: the error signal (green) and the two photodiode signals PD2 (blue) and PD1 (red), points joined by lines. The 190 MHz double arrow of the print is not reproduced. data.csv

Fig. 6

• panel (1): Left panel: zeroth fringe position ZFP (pixel) against time (sec) with the stabilized He-Ne laser as input, one point per second joined by a line. The 3.2 MHz double arrow of the print is not reproduced. data.csv
• panel (2): Right panel: Allan deviation $\sigma_y(\tau)$ against averaging time $\tau$ (sec) for the record of the left panel, on logarithmic axes, points joined by a line. data.csv

Fig. 7

• panel (1): Left panel: zeroth fringe position ZFP (pixel) against time (s) while the error signal setpoint is stepped: setpoint 150 (green), setpoint 0 (red) and setpoint -150 (blue), points joined by lines. The two dotted horizontal lines mark the first and last levels; the double arrow and its label in the print are not reproduced. data.csv
• panel (2): Right panel: histograms of the ZFP values (pixel) measured at the three setpoints of the left panel (green, red, blue), normalized as densities, each with a normal curve (dashed). The legend gives the mean of each distribution as printed; the double arrow and its label in the print are not reproduced. data.csv

Fig. 8

• panel (1): Left panel: ZFP (pixel, left axis, red) and error signal (bit, right axis, blue) against time (sec) for the control system with the 16-bit ADC while the laser is disturbed several times by cold air, points joined by lines. data.csv
• panel (2): Right panel: change in ZFP (pixel) against change in the error signal (bit) for the control system with the 16-bit ADC: seven points (raw, blue circles) and a linear fit (dashed red line). The right-hand scale of the print, relative frequency change in MHz, is not drawn. data.csv

Fig. 9

• panel (1): Top panel of the caption (printed at the left): frequency deviation (MHz), obtained from the change in error signal, against time (hrs) for the 10 bit ADC version (red points). The two horizontal dashed lines are those of the print. The 16 bit ADC series of the print is not shown. data.csv
• panel (2): Right panel: Allan deviation $\sigma_y(\tau)$ against averaging time $\tau$ (sec) for the 10 bit ADC record of the other panel (red points), on logarithmic axes. The 16 bit ADC series of the print is not shown. data.csv

Cite

Saurabh Kumar Singh, Avinash Kumar, Pranav R. Shirhatti. A simple and low-cost setup for part per billion level frequency stabilization and characterization of red He-Ne laser. HardwareX 14, e00421 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ohx.2023.e00421

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