Ultrahigh long-term dimensional stability of a sapphire cryogenic optical resonator

R. Storz, C. Braxmaier, K. Jäck, O. Pradl, S. Schiller
1998 Optics Letters  
We report on the ultrahigh long-term dimensional stability of a crystalline cryogenic optical resonator (CORE) cooled to liquid-helium temperature. The frequency of a Nd:YAG laser stabilized to a CORE was compared over long times with an independent laser system, a frequency-doubled Nd:YAG laser stabilized to a hyperfine line of molecular iodine at 532 nm. Over a 6-month period the drift was less than 3 kHz. The dimensional stability of the CORE is thus more than 2 orders of magnitude higher
more » ... n that of the best ultralow-expansion glass ceramic cavities at room temperature.
doi:10.1364/ol.23.001031 pmid:18087419 fatcat:r4bu5rydbjd4lf5rpeum25djra