Optical source with ultra-low relative intensity noise (RIN)

Apparatus for the generation of ultra-low noise light comprising: a laser generating light at a central frequency and having a frequency dependent relative intensity noise spectrum; and an optical filter having a substantially conjugate symmetric transfer function; wherein the center frequency of the light generated by the laser is substantially aligned with the peak transmission frequency of the filter; and wherein the transmission function of the filter is chosen, and the frequency dependent relative intensity noise spectrum of the laser is adjusted, to reduce the resulting relative intensity noise of the light at the output of the filter over a range of frequencies by causing the relative intensity noise spectrum of the laser to occur at frequencies for which the filter has substantial loss.