Laser Locking Electronics

Intelligent solution for versatile laser locking

TOPTICA provides exceptionally stable tunable diode lasers that feature narrow linewidths. Still, many demanding applications have even more rigorous requirements. To reduce remaining frequency fluctuations or cancel out long-term frequency drifts, active frequency stabilization, or "locking", is required.

Application Note - Phase and Frequency Locking of Diode Lasers

	PFD pro	FALC pro	DigiLock 110	FALC 110 & mFALC 110	PDH/DLC pro	DLC pro Lock^a	Wavelength Meter
Description / Type	Phase and Frequency detector for error signal generation	Digitally controlled fast analog PID	Versatile digital locking solution incl. PID	Fast analog 2-Channel PID	Pound-Drever-Hall Signal Generation, requires additional PID	All-digital feedback solution, incl. PID	Wavelength meter with PID option
Main application	Offset phase lock	all		linewidth narrowing	PDH locking, FM or modulation transfer spectroscopy	Spectroscopy lock	Long-term stabilization
Side-of-fringe	Not-applicable	✔	✔	✔		✔	not applicable
Top-of-fringe	Not-applicable	With PDH	✔	With PDH or old PDD	✔	✔	not applicable
Max. bandwidth	≈ 30 MHz	50 MHz (-3 dB)	≈ 10 MHz	≈ 45 MHz	50 MHz (analog) 1.5 MHz (digital)	≈ 30 kHz	< 100 Hz
Modulation frequency	Not applicable		17 Hz .. 25 MHz		5 MHz or 25 MHz	11 Hz .. 160 kHz	not applicable
Accuracy	depends on reference (can be very good)						2 MHz
Signal analysis			FFT, ...			FFT, ...
Relock mechanisms		With DLC pro Lock	✔			✔
Computer control	✔	✔	✔		✔	✔	✔
High voltage output						✔
High bandwidth output	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Two feedback channels		✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	Up to 8 channels available
Rack compatibility	DLC pro or DFC CORE required	DLC pro required	DLC ext or old SYS DC 110	DLC ext or old SYS DC 110	Built-in module for DLC pro
Strength	High frequency dynamics	Best performance	High end			Integrated in DLC pro	Stand-alone

^a optional software license for DLC pro