Spectral properties of molecular iodine absorption cells filled to saturation pressure

Abstract

The absorption cells - optical frequencies references – represent the crucial part of setups for practical realization of the meter unit – highly stable laser standards, where varied laser sources are frequency locked to the selected absorption transitions. Furthermore, not only in the most precise laboratory instruments, but also in less demanding interferometric measuring setups the frequency stabilization of the lasers throught the absorption in suitable media ensure the direct traceability to the fundamental standard of length. We present the results of measurement and evaluation of spectral properties of molecular iodine absorption cells filled to saturation pressure of absorption media. A set of cells filled with different amounts of molecular iodine was prepared and an agreement between expected and resulting spectral properties of these cells was observed and evaluated. The cells made of borosilicate glass instead of common fused silica were tested for their spectral properties in greater detail with special care for the absorption media purity – the measured hyperfine transitions linewidths were compared to cells traditionally made of fused silica glass with well known iodine purity. The usage of borosilicate glass material represents easier manufacturing process and also significant costs reduction but a great care must be taken to control/avoid the risk of absorption media contamination. An approach relying on measurement of linewidth of the hyperfine transitions is proposed and discussed.