Passive laser power stabilization via an optical spring

Metrology experiments can be limited by the noise produced by the laser involved via small fluctuations in the laser's power or frequency. Typically, active power stabilization schemes consisting of an in-loop sensor and a feedback control loop are employed. Those schemes are fundamentally limited by shot noise coupling at the in-loop sensor. In this Letter, we propose to use the optical spring effect to passively stabilize the classical power fluctuations of a laser beam. In a proof of principle experiment, we show that the relative power noise of the laser is stabilized from approximately 2x10(-5) Hz(-1/2) to a minimum value of 1.6x10(-7) Hz(-1/2), corresponding to the power noise reduction by a factor of 125. The bandwidth at which stabilization occurs ranges from 400 Hz to 100 kHz. The work reported in this Letter further paves the way for high power laser stability techniques which could be implemented in optomechanical experiments and in gravitational wave detectors. (C) 2022 Optica Publishing Group

Automated summary

This letter proposes a method using the optical spring effect to passively stabilize the classical power fluctuations of a laser beam. Through a proof of principle experiment, it demonstrates significant reduction of relative power noise within a certain bandwidth. This method provides new insights for the development of high power laser stability techniques.