Low Cost Stabilized Laser Diode System

This Phase 1 SBIR project aims to develop a frequency stabilized laser diode system suitable for application in optical metrology and in displacement measurement. The compact design of the semiconductor laser lends itself to many applications where a coherent light source is required, but space is at a premium. Some fields, such as precision optical metrology require a coherent light source whose frequency is stable to one part per million. The frequency of the laser diode is not inherently stable. A laser diode system which combines its compact size with a frequency stabilized output is a desirable product. We propose a feasibility study to investigate the use of two interferometers with different path imbalances to stabilize the output frequency of a laser diode to within one part per million By simultaneous use of two interferometers it is also possible to ensure that the frequency to which the laser is stabilized is unique, thus guaranteeing repeatability if the system is switched off and back on again.