Frequency stabilization of a 1.54 mu m Er-Yb laser against Doppler-free (C2H2)-C-13 lines

A novel and compact diode-pumped Er-Yb:glass laser, with single-frequency output power up to 20 mW in a wavelength range from 1531 to 1547 nm, was frequency stabilized against sub-Doppler rovibrational transitions of (C2H2)-C-13. The non-linear wavelength-modulation spectroscopy technique was used to lock the laser frequency to the molecular lines. The stability of the developed optical frequency standard was mainly dominated by a white frequency-noise contribution, which sets the Allan deviation at a level of sigma(y)(tau) = 2 x 10(-11)tau(-1/2) for integration times in the range of 0.01 < T < 100 s. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.