Measuring the frequency of light with mode-locked lasers
Abstract
We have stabilized the modes of a comb of optical frequencies emitted by a mode-locked femtosecond-laser and used it as a ruler to measure differences of up to 45.2 THz between laser frequencies in a new type of frequency chain. Directly converting optical to radio frequencies, we have used it for an absolute frequency measurement of the 1S-2S transition in the hydrogen atom. Here, an intuitive model of the comb's properties is given and essential techniques for its stabilization and efficient detection of beat signals are presented.
- Publication:
-
Optics Communications
- Pub Date:
- December 1999
- DOI:
- 10.1016/S0030-4018(99)00491-5
- Bibcode:
- 1999OptCo.172...59R