Power stabilization method of a diode laser for compact vapor cell frequency standards

We present a compact and power-efficient method for stabilizing the output power of a diode laser by leveraging its integrated temperature control. We demonstrate that this approach is highly effective in mitigating slow power drift. In particular, we verify that the power stabilization loop introduces negligible perturbation to the frequency stability and is even beneficial for an optimized gain. We confirm the practical benefit of this technique by applying it to an Rb vapor cell atomic clock, showing a measurable improvement in the clock’s long-term frequency stability by mitigating the instability induced by the light shift. This method offers a solution for miniaturized quantum sensors requiring stable, continuous-wave interrogation.