Construction and Performance of an Optical Phase and Frequency Lock of Diode Lasers

The relative phase and frequency stabilization setups for diode lasers are discussed. The construction and performance of an optical phase lock loop based on integrated phase-locked loop chips are shown along with practical tips facilitating its preparation. The interference pattern between two electronically locked lasers is shown as a proof of the system stability. The fringes contrast is a quantitative indicator of the mean-square phase error. Finally, an example of a very simple frequency offset lock realized with an all-in-one radio chip is also provided. (C) 2013 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE)