Frequency Stabilization of Diode Laser Using Dichroic-Atomic-Vapor Laser Lock Signals and Thin Rb Vapor Cell

Abstract

We report the frequency stabilization of a diode laser by applying the dichroic-atomic-vapor laser lock (DAVLL) method to a thin Rb vapor cell. A 1-mm-long Rb vapor cell is used to obtain a sub-Doppler spectrum that is required for frequency locking, which is easier than in the case of using a saturated absorption spectrometer. A 794-nm diode laser is tuned to the Rb D1 line, and sub-Doppler signals are observed by introducing a pumping beam and a probe beam in a perpendicular direction. We obtain error signals by subtracting the signals of σ+ polarized beams from that of σ- polarized beams in the presence of a magnetic field and stabilized the 794 nm diode laser frequency without modulating laser parameters. The stability of the 794-nm diode laser is evaluated using other independently stabilized diode laser.