Precise measurements of optical cavity dispersion and mirror coating properties via femtosecond combs

Michael J. Thorpe, R. Jason Jones, K. D. Moll, Jun Ye, Ramin Lalezari

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

65 Scopus citations

Abstract

We precisely determine the dispersion of an optical cavity over a large spectral bandwidth using a broadband optical comb generated by a femtosecond laser. This approach permits the effective characterization of the next generation of mirrors that will offer high reflectivity, minimal absorption/scattering loss, and well-defined dispersion characteristics. Such mirrors are essential for constructing passive, high-finesse cavities capable of storing and enhancing ultrashort pulses and for exploring novel intracavity-based experiments in atomic and molecular spectroscopy and extreme nonlinear optics. We characterize both zero and negative group-delay-dispersion mirrors and compare their performance against the targeted coating design. The high sensitivity of this approach is demonstrated with a precise determination of the group-delay dispersion of air inside a 40-cm long optical cavity, demonstrating an accuracy better than 1 fs2.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)882-888
Number of pages7
JournalOptics Express
Volume13
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2005
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

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