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arXiv:1209.4117 · Journal of the Optical Society of America B

Versatile laser system for experiments with cold atomic gases

Amita B. Deb, Ana Rakonjac, Niels Kjærgaard

Published Oct 22, 2012• 6 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We describe a simple and compact architecture for generating all-optical frequencies required for the laser cooling, state preparation, and detection of atoms in an ultracold rubidium-87 experiment from a single 780 nm laser source. In particular, repump light ∼6.5 GHz away from the cooling transition is generated by using a high-bandwidth fiber-coupled electro-optic modulator (EOM) in a feedback loop configuration. The looped repump light generation scheme solves the problem of the limited power handling capabilities characteristic of fiber EOMs. We demonstrate the functionality of the system by creating a high-atom-number magneto-optical trap (MOT).

DOI
10.1364/josab.29.003109

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We describe a simple and compact architecture for generating all-optical frequencies required for the laser cooling, state preparation, and detection of atoms in an ultracold rubidium-87 experiment from a single 780 nm laser source. In particular, repump light ∼6.5 GHz away from the cooling transition is generated by using a high-bandwidth fiber-coupled electro-optic modulator (EOM) in a feedback loop configuration. The looped repump light generation scheme solves the problem of the limited power handling capabilities characteristic of fiber EOMs. We demonstrate the functionality of the system by creating a high-atom-number magneto-optical trap (MOT).
We describe a compact and versatile multi-frequency laser system for laser-cooling potassium atoms by frequency doubling a fiber-optic telecom beam (≃1534 or 1540 nm). Low-power fiber-based telecom lasers and components generate a single beam containing the cooling and repumper half frequencies, subsequently amplified by a high-power amplifier. A final free-space second-harmonic generation stage provides a single beam with typically 2.5 W at quasi-resonant frequencies (≃767 or 770 nm) with high-quality mode and ready for laser cooling. This allowed us to trap up to 4×109 41K atoms with fast loading times (2.5 s) at sub-Doppler temperatures of 16 μK. This opens promising perspectives toward versatile and transportable ultracold atom setups.
In this paper, a compact laser system for 87Rb atom interferometry based on only one free-space electro-optic modulator (EOM) was realized, where repumping and Raman beams were generated with a free-space EOM. In addition, this laser system does not require a laser amplifier compared to fibered EOM since fibered EOM cannot transmit high-power lasers. However, due to the narrow modulation linewidth of free-space EOM, it is impossible to obtain the frequencies of repumping and Raman beams separately, which would lead to some complicated effects. Therefore, a theoretical analysis was carried out to solve this problem, and a new frequency scheme for AI is proposed. For the experiment, the laser system of AI was built up. Moreover, the atomic interference fringes were obtained with a contrast of 20.7% (T = 60 ms) and the fitted phase resolution is approximately 1.25 mrad. The presented laser system could provide a new solution for compact AI systems in the future.
In cold atom physics, the complexity of traditional magneto-optical trap system limits the use of their associated instruments for field applications in atomic physics, such as gravity mapping, space navigation and deep space exploration. This study introduces a novel compact MOT design that addresses these issues by simplifying the structure and reducing the size. The height of the unit is 0.7 m, the volume is 6.3×10−2m3 and the mass is 11.32 kg. The new design utilizes a single laser to generate the two different frequencies needed for laser cooling by internally splitting the beam, shifting the frequency and then combining them, effectively controlling both the cooling and repumping beams. The compact vacuum chamber optical path, in conjunction with the magnetic field, facilitates the capture of 87Rb atoms in an ultra-high vacuum environment. Experimental results demonstrate an atom loading rate of up to 1.79×10787Rb atoms per second, confirming the system’s effectiveness in capturing and cooling 87Rb atoms. This design provides a flexible and portable solution, offering valuable insights for the advancement of compact MOT and its applications in cold atom physics.
In this paper, we present a technique for magneto-optical cooling and trapping of neutral atoms using a single laser. The alternating-frequency magneto-optical trap (AF-MOT) uses an agile light source that sequentially switches between cooling and repumping transition frequencies by tuning the injection current of the laser diode. We report on the experimental demonstration of such a system for 87Rb and 85Rb based on a microintegrated extended cavity diode laser performing laser frequency jumps of up to 6.6 GHz with a tuning time in the microsecond regime and a repetition rate of up to 7.6 kHz. For that, a combination of a feed-forward for coarse frequency control and a feedback for precise locking was used. We discuss the results of the AF-MOT characterization in terms of atom numbers and cloud temperature for different operation parameters.
The creation of cold atoms underpins quantum sensing and precision metrology, computing, timekeeping, and fundamental science experiments. Miniaturizing the lasers and optical infrastructure, which occupy over 80% of the volume of these experiments, through photonic integration could improve robustness, reliability, and manufacturability while reducing cost and enabling portable space-based precision measurements and quantum tools for non-experts. Yet, there has been limited progress towards integration of the laser and optical infrastructure required to generate cold atoms onto a single chip. We demonstrate a photonic engine that generates, controls, and delivers precision light to create cold atoms in a rubidium 3-dimensional magneto-optical trap (3D-MOT). We integrate on a single chip two frequency-agile self-injection-locked lasers, laser frequency and intensity control, passive beam combining and splitting, signal monitoring, and high-efficiency beam delivery to a rubidium vapor cell. The integrated engine is shown to support multiple functions required for generating cold atoms including stable generation of low-noise cooling and repump light, frequency control for atom spectroscopy and stabilization, real-time laser monitoring, routing for laser offset locking, optical power modulation, and large-area three-beam delivery of 3 mW to the physics package. Fully electrically controlled, the engine enables sustained 3D-MOT operation, trapping more than 1 million atoms at an average temperature of 350 uK and supporting atom-number and temperature measurements. These results demonstrate the first single-chip integration of light generation, control, and delivery for cold-atom generation, offering a path toward smaller, more robust, and manufacturable cold-atom systems for applications including cold-atom clocks and sensors.
A new laser system is developed to laser cool rubidium atoms based on frequency doubling of a 1560 nm fiber bench. The use of telecom components gives a reliable and compact system robust compare to environmental perturbations. The laser system is validated by realizing a rubidium magneto-optical trap and an optical molasses. The laser system should find applications for onboard cold atoms experiments like inertial captors or atomic clocks. It is concluded that this laser system can also address potassium atoms which have a laser cooling wavelength of 767 nm.