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Laser frequency stabilization and measurement of optical frequencies

Publication

Abstract

This thesis is dedicated measurement of optical frequencies with applications in metrology. Current SI definition of meter - “The metre is the length of the path travelled by light in vacuum during a time interval of 1/299 792 458 of a second” can be practically realized by stabilization and measurement/knowledge of laser frequency: when the frequency/period is known, one can calculate the vacuum wavelength as λ0=c/f (where c=299 792 458 m/s) [1].

The wavelength estimated this way can then be used as reference for interferometric measurement of length or for spectroscopy. As an example, primary wavelength standard for optical communications was developed in the first part of this work: the DFB laser diode was frequency stabilized to sub-Doppler spectral line of acetylene at ~1540nm and its research, investigation of properties and absolute frequency measurements are described in detail.