The fast frequency stabilisation of an argon laser to an optical resonator using an extra-cavity electro-optic modulator

A frequency stabilization system for an argon laser is described, incorporating a fast piezoelectrically driven laser mirror and an extracavity electro-optic phase shifter. It is shown that results obtained with this method are potentially as good as those reported from systems which use fast intra-cavity modulators. This technique avoids the loss associated with an intra-cavity device, thus allowing higher power output,and so making it an attractive alternative to present stabilization systems.