Award Date

5-15-2026

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Physics and Astronomy

First Committee Member

Yan Zhou

Second Committee Member

David Shelton

Third Committee Member

Bernard Zygelman

Fourth Committee Member

Balakrishnan Naduvalath

Number of Pages

78

Abstract

Frequency metrology and quantum control, which uses light as a tool for measurement and manipulation, relies on spectrally narrow, stable lasers. Often thought of as being perfectly monochromatic and coherent, in reality, the free-running instantaneous linewidth of lasers can be on the order of hundreds of kHz in the millisecond time-frame and drift on the order of tens of MHz over hours. To correct for these instabilities in real-time, a variety of laser stabilization methods have been implemented, including the Pound-Drever-Hall (PDH) method, saturation absorption spectroscopy (SAS), and dichroic atomic vapor laser locking (DAVLL). All of these methods rely on the generation of an error signal that compares frequency references – such as atomic transitions, ultrastable optical cavities, or optical frequency combs – to the instantaneous laser frequency. With this error signal, a negative feedback loop is created using a PID controller to correct for the instabilities in the laser frequency. This work covers the construction of these laser stabilization systems and the characterization of the resultant laser linewidths through their implementation. These developments provide a solid foundation in laser spectroscopy, quantum control, and precision measurement.

Controlled Subject

Metrology; Laser spectroscopy; Lasers

Disciplines

Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics | Physical Sciences and Mathematics | Physics

File Format

PDF

File Size

7700 KB

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

Rights

IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

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