What Is the Coherence Length of a Highly Stabilized He-Ne Laser?

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SUMMARY

The coherence length of a highly stabilized He-Ne laser, with a frequency stability of 2 parts in 1010, can be calculated using the formula for coherence length, which is c/delta frequency. Given the wavelength of 632.8 nm, the coherence time is determined by the inverse of the delta frequency. The discussion clarifies that 1010 refers to the frequency's stability, indicating an uncertainty of ±(2*f*(10-10)), where f is the laser's frequency.

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Homework Statement


A magnetic-field technique for stabilizing a He-Ne laser to 2 parts in 10^10 has been patented. At 632.8 nm, what would be the coherence length of a laser with such frquency stability.


Homework Equations


Coherence time =1/delta frequency
coherence length = c/delta frquency


The Attempt at a Solution



dont know what 10^10 stands for and how to solve this
help would be much appreciated.
 
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I think it means that the technique assures you that if you choose to give the laser a frequency f, then the actual frequency of the laser will effectively be f with an uncertainty of only ±(2*f*(10^-10)).

See what I "did"? I shopped up f into 10^10 equal parts, then said that the uncertainty of f is 2 of those parts: 2*(f/[10^10])
 
Last edited:
10^10 means 10 raised to the power of 10, which is 10 billion. So the frequency is stable to 2 parts in 10 billion.

What is the frequency of the HeNe laser?
 

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