Stabilization of a non-planar optical cavity using its polarization property

• Published in: Optics communications Vol. 282; no. 15; pp. 3108 - 3112
• Main Authors: Honda, Y., Shimizu, H., Fukuda, M., Omori, T., Urakawa, J., Sakaue, K., Sakai, H., Sasao, N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01-08-2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: 42.25.Ja; 42.60.Da; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Laser optical systems: design and operation; Optical elements, devices, and systems; Optics; Physics; Polarization; Reflectors, beam splitters, and deflectors; Resonators, cavities, amplifiers, arrays, and rings; Stabilization; Wave optics; Polarization; 42.60.Da; Stabilization; 42.25.Ja; Circular polarization; Optical resonators; Beam separators
• ISSN: 0030-4018; 1873-0310
• DOI: 10.1016/j.optcom.2009.04.043

This paper describes new scheme for obtaining a differential signal to lock an optical cavity at a resonance peak. This scheme utilizes a unique property of non-planar cavities; due to an additional phase factor originated from the geometric configuration of the optical path, the two circular polarizations produce two resonance peaks. An ideal signal that crosses zero at the resonance peaks can be obtained using a simple setup consisting of a polarizing beam splitter and photo-diodes. The principle and the results of an experiment are also presented.