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arXiv:1107.3764 · Physical Review Letters

Spectrally Narrow, Long-Term Stable Optical Frequency Reference Based on a Eu3+∶Y2SiO5 Crystal at Cryogenic Temperature

Qunfeng Chen, Andrei Troshyn, Ingo Ernsting, Steffen Alexander Kayser, Sergey Vasilyev, Alexander Yu. Nevsky, Stephan Schiller

Published Nov 21, 2011• 33 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Using an ultrastable continuous-wave laser at 580 nm we performed spectral hole burning of Eu(3+):Y(2)SiO(5) at a very high spectral resolution. The essential parameters determining the usefulness as a macroscopic frequency reference, linewidth, temperature sensitivity, and long-term stability, were characterized using a H-maser stabilized frequency comb. Spectral holes with a linewidth as low as 6 kHz were observed and the upper limit of the drift of the hole frequency was determined to be 5±3 mHz/s. We discuss the necessary requirements for achieving ultrahigh stability in laser frequency stabilization to these spectral holes.

DOI
10.1103/physrevlett.107.223202

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Several properties of Eu 3+ :Y 2 SiO 5 spectral holes are measured, to assess the suitability of broad-band hole-patterns for use as laser-frequency references. We measure frequency shifts due to magnetic fields, side-features of neighboring spectral holes and changing optical probe power. A precise calibration of a temperature insensitive point is also performed, where the temperature-induced frequency shift is canceled to first order by the pressure-induced shift from the crystal's helium-gas environment.

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Using an ultrastable continuous-wave laser at 580 nm we performed spectral hole burning of Eu(3+):Y(2)SiO(5) at a very high spectral resolution. The essential parameters determining the usefulness as a macroscopic frequency reference, linewidth, temperature sensitivity, and long-term stability, were characterized using a H-maser stabilized frequency comb. Spectral holes with a linewidth as low as 6 kHz were observed and the upper limit of the drift of the hole frequency was determined to be 5±3 mHz/s. We discuss the necessary requirements for achieving ultrahigh stability in laser frequency stabilization to these spectral holes.
We present and analyze four frequency measurements designed to characterize the performance of an optical frequency reference based on spectral hole burning in Eu3+:Y2SiO5{\mathrm{Eu}}^{3+}\mathrm{\text{:}}{\mathrm{Y}}_{2}{\mathrm{SiO}}_{5}Eu3+:Y2​SiO5​. The first frequency comparison, between a single unperturbed spectral hole and a hydrogen maser, demonstrates a fractional frequency drift rate of $5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}18}\text{ }\text{ }{\mathrm{s}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. Optical frequency comparisons between a pattern of spectral holes, a Fabry-P\'erot cavity, and an Al+{\mathrm{Al}}^{+}Al+ optical atomic clock show a short-term fractional frequency stability of $1\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}15}{\ensuremath{\tau}}^{\ensuremath{-}1/2}$ that averages down to ${2.5}_{\ensuremath{-}0.5}^{+1.1}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}16}$ at $\ensuremath{\tau}=540\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{s}$ (with linear frequency drift removed). Finally, spectral-hole patterns in two different Eu3+:Y2SiO5{\mathrm{Eu}}^{3+}\mathrm{\text{:}}{\mathrm{Y}}_{2}{\mathrm{SiO}}_{5}Eu3+:Y2​SiO5​ crystals located in the same cryogenic vessel are compared, yielding a short-term stability of $7\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}16}{\ensuremath{\tau}}^{\ensuremath{-}1/2}$ that averages down to ${5.5}_{\ensuremath{-}0.9}^{+1.8}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}17}$ at $\ensuremath{\tau}=204\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{s}$ (with quadratic frequency drift removed).
Spectral hole burning in rare earth doped crystal can provide frequency references based on the optical transition of the dopant ions [1] . The narrow spectral patterns can be used to improve laser frequency stabilization [2] , [3] and provide a new generation of ultra-stable lasers with lower thermal noise benefiting from the cryogenic environment and better quality factor of the crystal than the amorphous glass typically used in the Fabry-Perot cavity. We utilize Europium doped yttrium silicon oxide (Eu:YSO) in our experiments, which allow realization of long lived (hours or more depending on temperature) narrow spectral holes ( kHz or less) well suited for high precision experiment applications. We will describe our novel double-heterodyne detection method [4] , used to decrease the detection noise, as well as experiments assessing quantitatively the sensitivity of the spectral pattern to crystal deformation [5] , [6] , application of electric field [7] and temperature fluctuations. We currently demonstrate a state-of-the-art laser frequency stability at 1.7 × 10 − 15 at 1s [4] , limited by the latter effect, for which improvement strategies have been demonstrated elsewhere [2] and which we are currently implementing. The other effects which we have quantitatively studied are compatible with a few 10 − 18 frequency stability at 1s time scale. This work is particularly promising in the context of optical frequency lattice clocks, for which the ultra-stable laser used for probing the clock transition is a strong limiting factor of the frequency stability.
Laser frequency stabilization giving a 500-Hz Allan deviation for a 2-ms integration time with drift reduced to 7 kHz/min over several minutes was achieved at 1536 nm in the optical communication band. A continuously regenerated spectral hole in the inhomogeneously broadened 4I15/2(1)4I13/2(1){}^{4}{I}_{15/2}{(1)}^{4}{I}_{13/2}(1)4I15/2​(1)4I13/2​(1) optical absorption of an Er3+:Y2SiO5{\mathrm{Er}}^{3+}:{\mathrm{Y}}_{2}{\mathrm{SiO}}_{5}Er3+:Y2​SiO5​ crystal was used as the short-term frequency reference, while a variation on the locking technique allowed simultaneous use of the inhomogeneously broadened absorption line as a long-term reference. The reported frequency stability was achieved without vibration isolation. Spectral hole burning frequency stabilization provides ideal laser sources for high-resolution spectroscopy, real-time optical signal processing, and a range of applications requiring ultra-narrow-band light sources or coherent detection; the time scale for stability and the compatibility with spectral hole burning devices make this technique complementary to other frequency references for laser stabilization.
By using an Ar + ion laser, a tunable Rh 6 G dye laser (linewidth 0.5 cm −1 ) pumped by the second harmonic of a YAG:Nd laser and a Coherent 899-21 dye laser as light sources and using a monochromator, a phase-locking amplifier and a computer as the data detecting system, we detect the optical properties of Eu 3+ -doped Y 2 SiO 5 crystal. Persistent spectral hole burning (PSHB) are observed in the Eu 3+ ions spectral lines ( 5 D 0 − 7 F 0 transition) in the crystal at the temperature of 16 K. For 15 mW dye laser burning the crystal for 0.1 s spectral holes with hole width about 80 MHz both at 579.62 nm and at 579.82 nm are detected and the holes can remain for a long time, more than 10 h.
This poster presents the status of the development of an ultra-frequency stable laser via a spectroscopic technique known as Spectral Hole Burning (SHB). In short, we can use a pump laser to imprint, or ’burn’, transmissive spectral lines, or ’spectral holes’, in the otherwise inhomogeneously broadened absorptive spectral sites of a Eu3+ doped Y2SiO5 crystal. We can then lock a probe laser to these narrow spectral features achieving our frequency stabilized laser. Of great concern is the frequency stability of the spectral holes, such as their sensitivity to temperature changes which we characterize here. Additionally, a challenge this experiment faces is the restriction of probe laser power to avoid damaging the spectral features. This sets a relatively high level of shot noise, limiting the detection sensitivity. Here we present our solution to overcome this difficulty by using a multi-spectral- hole probing scheme to average the probing signals of several burned spectral holes.
Several properties of Eu 3+ :Y 2 SiO 5 spectral holes are measured, to assess the suitability of broad-band hole-patterns for use as laser-frequency references. We measure frequency shifts due to magnetic fields, side-features of neighboring spectral holes and changing optical probe power. A precise calibration of a temperature insensitive point is also performed, where the temperature-induced frequency shift is canceled to first order by the pressure-induced shift from the crystal's helium-gas environment.