Optimizing the Long Reference Cavities for Robust Frequency Locking

POSTER

Abstract

Optical reference cavities play a central role in time/frequency metrology, laser frequency stabilization of arbitrary wavelengths, and precision measurement. However, reference cavity geometry simultaneously affects multiple competing parameters, such as g-factor, free spectral range (FSR), thermal noise, and higher-order-mode interference, while no systematic framework currently exists for optimizing these trade-offs. 

Here, we introduce a numerical framework for determining the optimal reference cavity parameters to mitigate noise using Finesse3, an open-source frequency domain simulation. By defining a cost function based on the FSR, g-factor, beam waist, mirror spot size, and higher-order mode separation, we identify cavity lengths that balance geometric stability and mode discrimination.

This approach extends conventional cavity design criteria beyond simple length scaling and provides practical guidance for optimized reference cavity design in precision frequency-locking experiments.

*This work was supported by the Quantum New Mexico Institute (QNM-i).

Presenters

  • Junho Kim

    • Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA; Quantum New Mexico Institute (QNM-i)

Authors

  • Junho Kim

    • Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA; Quantum New Mexico Institute (QNM-i)

  • Francisco S Cárcoba

    • Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA; Center for Quantum Information and Control (CQuIC); Quantum New Mexico Institute