Thermal-noise limits to the frequency stability of burned spectral holes

authored by: M. T. Hartman, N. Wagner, S. Kroker, S. Seidelin, B. Fang
Abstract: Techniques in frequency stabilization of lasers to fixed-spacer optical cavities have advanced to the point where the ultimate frequency stabilities are limited by thermal noise for standard cavity configurations at room temperature. In early experiments, laser stabilization via spectral-hole burning (SHB) has been shown to be a promising alternative. In this Letter, we explore the thermal-noise limits to frequency stability in spectral holes and compile known material parameters for a typical system used in SHB experiments ( Eu 3 + doped Y 2 SiO 5 ) to make numerical estimates for the fundamental thermal-noise induced frequency instability in spectral holes for the liquid-helium temperature and dilution temperature cases. These efforts can guide the design of future SHB experiments and clarify which important material parameters remain to be measured.
External Organisation(s): Observatoire de Paris (OBSPARIS)
Technische Universität Braunschweig
Laboratory for Emerging Nanometrology Braunschweig (LENA)
Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt PTB
University Grenoble-Alpes (UGA)
Type: Article
Journal: Applied physics letters
Volume: 127
ISSN: 0003-6951
Publication date: 14.07.2025
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0258936 (Access: Unknown)

BibTeX

@article{3f1ec06d14924a92a1a1ab8f3c55e9c1,
title = "Thermal-noise limits to the frequency stability of burned spectral holes",
abstract = "Techniques in frequency stabilization of lasers to fixed-spacer optical cavities have advanced to the point where the ultimate frequency stabilities are limited by thermal noise for standard cavity configurations at room temperature. In early experiments, laser stabilization via spectral-hole burning (SHB) has been shown to be a promising alternative. In this Letter, we explore the thermal-noise limits to frequency stability in spectral holes and compile known material parameters for a typical system used in SHB experiments ( Eu 3 + doped Y 2 SiO 5 ) to make numerical estimates for the fundamental thermal-noise induced frequency instability in spectral holes for the liquid-helium temperature and dilution temperature cases. These efforts can guide the design of future SHB experiments and clarify which important material parameters remain to be measured.",
author = "Hartman, {M. T.} and N. Wagner and S. Kroker and S. Seidelin and B. Fang",
note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 Author(s).",
year = "2025",
month = jul,
day = "14",
doi = "10.1063/5.0258936",
language = "English",
volume = "127",
journal = "Applied physics letters",
issn = "0003-6951",
publisher = "American Institute of Physics",
number = "2",
}