Simulation and Characterization of Optical Cavity for Iodine Stabilized Helium Neon Laser

Abstract

Laser cavity design and characterization plays a crucial role in spectroscopy and development of wavelength standards. Frequency stability of laser is significantly affected by perturbations in environment effects on mirror mounts and fabrication quality of guide ways & mounts. While designing the laser resonator for iodine stabilized helium-neon (He-Ne) laser, linear mechanism of mirror mount is required to vary the cavity length, in order to scan the frequency for spectroscopy. In this investigation, we have designed a shaft consist of straight splines that will be used for the holding and linear movement of the mirror. This manuscript present the design of cavity for a He-Ne laser intended for intracavity spectroscopy of iodine, as well as simulation in octave software for stability analysis, and discussed the dimensional characterization of invar guide ways and spline shaft. Roundness of invar rods used area was measured using form tester (RA- 2200 CNC) and a coordinate measuring machine (3D-CMM, LEGEX 9106) was used for dimensional characterization of spline shaft, and the associated uncertainty of measurement was evaluated as per ISO GUM/LPU approach according to JCGM 100:2008.