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Ask RP Photonics for advice on the parameters of an etalon e.g. for wavelength tuning a laser.
Definition: monolithic interferometric devices containing two parallel reflecting surfaces
An optical etalon (also called Fabry-Pérot etalon) was originally a Fabry-Perot interferometer in the form of a transparent plate (often made of fused silica) with parallel reflecting surfaces (→ solid etalon). However, the term is often also used for Fabry-Perots consisting of two mirrors with some air gap in between (→ air-spaced etalon).
When inserted into a laser beam, an etalon acts as an optical resonator (cavity), with the transmission periodically varying with optical frequency. (Strictly, the transmission is not exactly periodic in frequency due to chromatic dispersion.) In resonance, the reflections from the two surfaces cancel each other via destructive interference. The highest reflection losses occur in anti-resonance. The transmission versus frequency can be described with an Airy function, which approximately fits a simple sinusoidal function for not too high surface reflectivities.
Figure 1: Tilted solid etalon in a laser beam.
The resonance effects occur even with some tilt (Figure 1), provided that the tilt angle is so small that the overlap of counterpropagating waves is not significantly reduced. The tilt angle can then be used to control the resonance frequencies. An etalon can therefore be used as an adjustable optical filter, e.g. for tuning the wavelength of a laser.
Figure 2: Transmission spectra of an uncoated 100-μm thick fused-silica etalon for normal incidence (solid curve), and for tilt angles of 2° (dashed curve) and 4° (dotted curve).
The reflectivities of the etalon's surfaces may simply result from the refractive index discontinuity between the etalon material and air (→ Fresnel reflection) or may be modified with a dielectric coating. By increasing the reflectivity, it is possible to increase the finesse, i.e., to sharpen the resonances without reducing the free spectral range.
The effective finesse of an etalon may not reach the value which could be expected based on the surface reflectivities: it can be reduced, for example, if the reflecting surfaces are not perfectly parallel and flat. A reduced interference contrast can also result from using a not properly collimated beam, a too large tilt angle, or a reduced beam quality.
Figure 3: Transmission spectra of an etalon as before, but with a 40% reflecting coating on both sides.
When operated away from resonance or anti-resonance, an etalon provides chromatic dispersion. This is exploited in some dispersion compensation modules for optical fiber communications.
See also: Fabry-Perot interferometers, cavities, free spectral range, finesse, dispersion compensation modules, wavelength tuning
Categories: photonic devices, resonators
