Open AccessA simple technique for accurate and complete characterisation of a Fabry-Perot cavity
Author(s) -
Clayton R. Locke,
Dustin Stuart,
Eugene Ivanov,
André Luiten
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.17.021935
Subject(s) - finesse , optics , fabry–pérot interferometer , resonator , optical cavity , free spectral range , dispersion (optics) , laser , measure (data warehouse) , physics , materials science , computer science , database
It has become a significant challenge to accurately characterise the properties of recently developed very high finesse optical resonators (F > 10(6)). A similar challenge is encountered when trying to measure the properties of cavities in which either the probing laser or the cavity length is intrinsically unstable. We demonstrate in this article the means by which the finesse, mode-matching, free spectral range, mirror transmissions and dispersion may be measured easily and accurately even when the laser or cavity has a relatively poor intrinsic frequency stability.