Micro-g Laser-1 Frequency Stabilized HeNe Laser

Description

Product Description

The Micro-g Laser-1 (ML-1)is a small laboratory HeNe laser. It provides a linearly-polarized, frequency-stabilized, continuous wave (CW) visible (red at 633nm) laser light with a nominal output power of 1 mWatt.  This laser is ideal for laboratory measurements, spectroscopy, interferometry, and other sensitive distance measurements. The frequency of the ML-1 laser is calibrated at the factory against an absolute frequency reference such that the average output frequency of the two modes is known to the kHz level to provide an ideal light source wherever a visible calibrated light source is needed.  In its intensity stabilized mode, the intensity, not the frequency is stabilized to a user determined value.

Applications

Spectroscopy

Distance Measurement

Interferometry

Secondary standard reference

Wavelength calibration

Alignment of optical systems

Absolute gravimetry

Instrument Features

Two types of Stabilized Modes:

Intensity Stabilized Mode:  better than 0.01% over 1 hr.

Frequency Stabilized Mode:

Frequency Lock Point: Select to red or blue side of line center

RMS Frequency Fluctuations (Measurement made with ML-1 locked to one side of gain curve):

Short Term (10msec): <100 kHz ()

Long Term (days, <1 °C room temp changes): <800kHz ()

Average of red/blue lock frequencies (24 hours, stable room temperature): <500kHz

Long-Term Power Drift: <1%

Intensity Fluctuations: <0.1% (rms 1Hz-10MHz)

Absolute accuracy measured and given to user upon delivery with an accuracy of better than 10MHz () Single Mode Purity: 1:500

Frequency accuracy on side lock: 10MHz

Output Beam Angular Drift: <1mrad

After Warm-Up: <0.01mrad

Warm-Up Time: Approx. 15min.

Transverse Mode: TEM₀₀

Beam Diameter at : 0.63mm

Beam Divergence: 1.3mrad

Output Beam Polarization: >100:1

Polarization Mode Purity: 25dB suppression

Instrument Performance

Shown below are two Allan Variances of the laser frequency when the Micro-g Laser-1 is “beat” with an iodine-stabilized laser (primary standard frequency source). Each measurement occurred over a 24 hour period. In the first case the room temperature cycled over 2 °C, while in the second case it was stable to better than 0.4 °C. Zero on the vertical axes is an arbitrary offset in the beat frequency between the two lasers.

Instrument Dimensions

The dimensions of the housing are 13.0 x 3.5 x 3.5″, and the laser beam height is 2″ from the bottom of the feet.

Micro-g Laser-1 Manual