Abstract

The relatively large intrinsic FM noise of semiconductor lasers has recently been used to perform FM noise spectroscopy [1] Similar to coherent FM spectroscopy, FM noise spectroscopy converts frequency (FM) noise into amplitude (AM) noise when an FM noise sideband interacts with a dispersive or absorptive medium. The intrinsic amplitude noise of the probe diode laser limits the sensitivity of FM noise spectroscopy. In this experiment we have used amplitude-squeezed diode laser to perform FM noise spectroscopy in an effort to improve the sensitivity of FM noise spectroscopy. Even though the amplitude noise in our probe diode laser was below shot noise, the FM noise exceeded shot noise because of the anomalous dispersion in diode lasers[2].

© 1996 Optical Society of America