Diode laser frequency stabilization using a low cost, low finesse Fabry-Perot cavity*

Our lab employs low cost, low finesse Fabry-Perot cavities to stabilize the frequency of diode lasers used in ultra-cold Rydberg atom experiments. To characterize the stability of this technique, we perform a self-heterodyne linewidth measurement. For comparison, we also measure the linewidth when using a saturated absorption spectrometer to provide frequency stability.