Dynamics of bad-cavity enhanced interaction with cold Sr atoms for laser stabilization

Abstract: Hybrid systems of cold atoms and optical cavities are promising systems for increasing the stability of laser oscillators used in quantum metrology and atomic clocks. In this paper we map out the atom-cavity dynamics in such a system and demonstrate limitations as well as robustness of the approach. We investigate the phase response of an ensemble of cold strontium-88 atoms inside an optical cavity for use as an error signal in laser frequency stabilization. With this system we realize a regime where the high atomic phase-shift limits the dynamical locking range. The limitation is caused by the cavity transfer function relating input field to output field. However, the cavity dynamics is shown to have only little influence on the prospects for laser stabilization making the system robust towards cavity fluctuations and ideal for the improvement of future narrow linewidth lasers.