Offset compensation by use of amplitude-modulated sidebands in optical frequency standards.
We present a general method for continuously measuring and compensating for offsets (due to residual amplitude modulation, parasitic resonances, or electronic offset voltages, for example) in frequency stabilization systems. The spectral power distribution of the oscillator waveform is modified by amplitude-modulated sidebands, and the error signal is corrected to null the induced periodic lock-point shifts. We demonstrate significant improvements to the frequency stability of standards based on cryogenic optical resonators and molecular iodine.
Müller
Holger
H
Institut für Physik, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Hausvogteiplatz 5-7, 10117 Berlin, Germany. holger.mueller@physik.hu-berlin.de
Herrmann
Sven
S
Schuldt
Thilo
T
Scholz
Matthias
M
Kovalchuk
Evgeny
E
Peters
Achim
A