Application and Performance Improvement of an Optical Power Stabilization System Based on MEMS-LCVR in a SERF Atomic Magnetometer

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This paper utilizes MEMS technology combined with the stabilization method of LCVR to improve the output power stability of fiber lasers. This technology is applied to atomic magnetometers. Within a 500-second timeframe, the power fluctuation is reduced from 2.8% to 0.2%. The article is rich in content and possesses certain research value, making it suitable for publication in Photonics after revisions.

1. Figure 2 is a typical PID control diagram and does not represent the authors' work. Please supplement this section with the authors' innovations or contributions.

2.Many equations in the text lack reference citations. It is recommended to add references to indicate their sources.

3.The text in Figure 3 is too small and unclear. Additionally, Figure 3(b) is excessively compressed horizontally, resulting in image distortion.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This paper focuses on the application of a light power stabilization system based on a Liquid Crystal Variable Retarder (LCVR) in a SERF atomic magnetometer, aiming to improve the stability of laser output and the measurement sensitivity of the magnetometer. The experimental design of this paper is reasonable, and the results have certain value, making it suitable for publication in MDPI. However, the authors need to consider several issues before publication.

 

Comments:

1. It is recommended to supplement the research background with a comparison of existing light power stabilization methods (such as those based on acousto-optic modulators and feedback control algorithms) to clarify the novelty of the LCVR scheme.
2. Whether potential error sources in the experiment (such as temperature fluctuations, ambient light interference, photodetector dark current, and laser drive current noise, etc.) have caused impacts.
3. The conclusion only summarizes the research achievements but fails to clearly address the research limitations (such as long-term stability and robustness) and future research directions. It is recommended to add relevant content.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The manuscript is interesting and original and, of course, is worth publishing. However, to our opinion, the experimental setup has to be explained and described in much more details. Its elements – first of all the laser and the LCVR, their design and performance – are to be described in much more details. Meanwhile, the title of the manuscript is somewhat misleading. The reader can think that the major innovation is due to the use of MEMS, but it is not the case. The optical schematics has also to be explained in more details. For instance, we are not completely sure, why have the authors chosen such a complicated system of separation of working channel and measurement channel, based on polarization beam splitter. Why not to use the more traditional and simple scheme with measuring the signal intensity based on simple weak reflection from some uncovered glass plate?

As to electronics and software part of the system, they are, vice versa, explained in too much details and in a very complicated manner. Do not forget that the Photonics journal audience are specialists in optics and photonics rather than in computer sciences. As a reviewer, and a person, who have spent all my life in optics, I am not sure that I have completely understood all these tricks with bees etc. Think of presenting this staff in a simpler way, readable to the non-computer people.

And it would be very good to compare the stabilization results with other methods and with results of other groups.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

I am satisfied by the new version of the manuscript. Now it can be accepted.