3D printing a Faraday anomalous dispersion optical filter housing

Abstract

Faraday anomalous dispersion optical filters (FADOFs) were used in laser frequency locking experiment as early as 1969, and later this laser was named Faraday laser. Typically, as the key element in the Faraday laser, the housing for the FADOF is machined from metal and insulation material. Here, we present an alternative to the commonly used option that utilizes 3D printing. We measure the inner magnetic field intensity of the housing for the FADOF and the transmission spectrum of our FADOF system, and show that it is sufficient for use in Faraday laser. Besides, we also characterize the performance of our Faraday laser system using atomic spectroscopy. The performance and cost of 3Dprinted FADOF housing make it an appealing option.