Frequency Stabilization of a High Power Argon Laser

Abstract

A technique for frequency stabilizing a high power, single frequency argon laser is described which offers certain advantages over those that have already been reported. This system is capable of maintaining a relative short term frequency stability of the order of ±2 parts in 109 and a long term stability (2 h) of about ±5 parts in 109 for the 5145-Å line at a power level of 750 mW. This short and long term stability is achieved by means of a multiple feedback loop composed of an optical cavity discriminator which is stabilized against an iodine vapor absorption line.