We have developed an improved technique to increase the stability of single-frequency lasers by employing a scanning Fabry–Perot interferometer and a stabilized helium neon laser. Our instrument surpasses earlier devices in several key areas. The laser frequency can now be stabilized while scanned across its inherent single-frequency tuning range. The frequency stability is long term with an increased frequency correction rate of nearly 500 Hz. The laser frequency can be scanned repeatedly with a repetition accuracy equal to the frequency stability. Also, the electronics permit the laser frequency to be swept externally while synchronized with other instruments. Our stabilizer reduced the frequency drift of a commercial ring dye laser to ±1 MHz relative to the reference laser.
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