Optical Cavity Setup for Future Hybrid Lock Concept

Abstract

We present the ongoing development of a compact and robust optical cavity setup developed with an emphasis on space compatibility and based on a 5 cm ULE cavity with fused silica substrates and crystalline mirrors. A detailed design description is followed by a noise prediction of the final setup. The expected frequency stability is on the order of 5 x 10^(-16) for 0.1 s < tau < 10 s. Designed with the background of combining the cavity setup with a molecular iodine spectroscopy unit into a hybrid lock, both are briefly explained and followed up with a simulation of the hybrid-lock's expected performance. The short-term stability of the hybrid lock is shown to be comparable to the standalone performance of the cavity while having long-term stability on the order of current passive H-Masers.