Leibrandt, D.
and Heidecker, J.
(2015),
An open source digital servo for atomic, molecular, and optical physics experiments, Review of Scientific Instruments, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=919237
(Accessed July 21, 2025)
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An open source digital servo for atomic, molecular, and optical physics experiments
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Abstract
We describe a general purpose digital servo optimized for feedback control of lasers in atomic, molecular, and optical (AMO) physics experiments. The servo is capable of feedback bandwidths up to roughly 1~MHz; loop filter shapes up to fifth order; multiple-input, multiple-output control; and automatic lock acquisition. The configuration of the servo is controlled via a graphical user interface, which also provides a rudimentary software oscilloscope and tools for measurement of system transfer functions. We illustrate the functionality of the digital servo by describing its use in two example scenarios: frequency control of the laser used to probe the narrow clock transition of 27Al+ in an optical atomic clock, and length control of a cavity used for resonant frequency doubling of a laser.Citation
Review of Scientific Instruments
Volume
86
Pub Type
Journals
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Keywords
control systems, digital signal processing, servo devices
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Created December 30, 2015, Updated August 10, 2018