Vapor-cell frequency reference for short-wavelength transitions in neutral calcium

We have characterized the molecular tellurium (Te$_2$) spectrum in the vicinity of the 423nm $^1S_0-^1P_1$ and the 431nm $^3P_1-^3P_0$ transitions in neutral calcium. These transitions are relevant to optical clocks for atomic-beam characterization and cooling (423nm) and enhanced detection (431nm). The use of a Te$_2$ vapor cell as a frequency reference has many advantages over other laser stabilization techniques, and we discuss an application to measuring the instability due to the second-order Doppler shift in a calcium beam clock.