Slow Light Frequency Reference Cavities -- Proof of Concept for Reducing the Frequency Sensitivity Due to Length Fluctuations

Abstract

Length changes due to thermo-mechanical noise originating from, for example, Brownian motion are a key limiting factor of present day state-of-the-art laser frequency stabilization using Fabry-P\'erot cavities. We present a laser-frequency stabilization concept using an optical cavity with a strong slow-light effect to reduce the impact of cavity length changes on the frequency stability. The resulting noise-reduction factor is proportional to the ratio between the light phase and group velocities in the highly dispersive cavity spacer. We experimentally demonstrate a proof-of-principle implementation of this laser-frequency stabilization technique using a rare-earth doped crystalline cavity spacer in conjunction with semi-permanent spectral tailoring to achieve precise control of the dispersive properties of the cavity. Compared to the same setup in the absence of the slow-light effect a reduction in frequency sensitivity of four orders of magnitude was achieved.