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arXiv:1302.4160 · Applied Physics Letters

Simple method of light-shift suppression in optical pumping systems

B. H. McGuyer, Yuan‐Yu Jau, W. Happer

Published Jun 22, 2009• 56 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We report a simple method to suppress the light shift in optical pumping systems. This method uses only frequency modulation of a radio frequency or microwave source, which is used to excite an atomic resonance, to simultaneously lock the source frequency to the atomic resonance and lock the pumping light frequency to suppress the light shift. We experimentally validate the method in a vapor-cell atomic clock and verify the results through numerical simulation. This technique can be applied to many optical pumping systems that experience light shifts. It is especially useful for atomic frequency standards because it improves long-term performance, reduces the influence of the laser, and requires less equipment than previous methods.

DOI
10.1063/1.3158961

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We report a simple method to suppress the light shift in optical pumping systems. This method uses only frequency modulation of a radio frequency or microwave source, which is used to excite an atomic resonance, to simultaneously lock the source frequency to the atomic resonance and lock the pumping light frequency to suppress the light shift. We experimentally validate the method in a vapor-cell atomic clock and verify the results through numerical simulation. This technique can be applied to many optical pumping systems that experience light shifts. It is especially useful for atomic frequency standards because it improves long-term performance, reduces the influence of the laser, and requires less equipment than previous methods.
We present a new method to eliminate the light shift in atomic frequency standards and other optical pumping systems. This method uses only frequency modulation of a radio frequency or microwave source in order to simultaneously lock the source frequency to an atomic resonance and lock the pumping light to eliminate the light shift. In contrast, conventional stabilization of both sources requires two individual modulation schemes and feedback loops, adding complexity. Our method kills two birds with one stone. The method uses fewer additional components and offers improved performance, reduced cost, and easier miniaturization than previous methods. In particular, few modifications are required for implementation in conventional vapor-cell atomic clocks. We believe this technique will be useful for atomic frequency standards and other optical pumping systems that experience the light shift.
We investigate a novel method to suppress the light-shift effect in laser-pumped passive rubidium frequency standards. The reduction of the light-shift due to additional frequency components in the pumping light is studied theoretically and compared to experimental results obtained with a frequency-modulated DBR laser diode as a pumping light source. In this way, a reduction of the light shift by a factor of 55 was successfully demonstrated. Complete cancellation of the light shift can be reached with a suitably adjusted modulation index and frequency.
Light shift and vapor-cell temperature shift are the two most significant factors dominating the long-term instability of compact atomic clocks. Due to the different physical mechanisms, there is not yet a solution that can effectively suppress the frequency shifts induced by these two effects. Here, we propose a 'resonance-offset' locking approach that compensates for the two physical frequency shifts. In this approach, the additional offset locking shift can effectively counteract the atomic resonance shifts arising from changes in vapor-cell temperature and light power, reducing the net impact on the clock's frequency to nearly zero. We have demonstrated this strategy on the 778 nm Rubidium two-photon optical frequency standard, successfully compensating for light shift and cell-temperature shift, respectively. This general method is particularly appealing for compact vapor-cell microwave and optical atomic clocks designed for the excellent stability rather than accuracy.
We describe a novel technique for stabilizing frequency shifts in laser-interrogated vapor-cell atomic clocks. The method suppresses frequency shifts due to changes in the laser frequency, intensity, and modulation index as well as atomic vapor density. The clock operating parameters are monitored by using the atoms themselves, rather than by using conventional schemes for laser frequency and cell temperature control. The experiment is realized using a chip-scale atomic clock. The novel atomic-based stabilization approach results in a simpler setup and improved long-term performance.
In a chip scale atomic clock (CSAC), a laser beam with a higher intensity is usually used to achieve a good contrast of the clock transition signal. Thus the light shift (AC Stark shift) is of great importance to the performance of a CSAC device. Here we apply the reduced light shift optical pumping method to a micro-machined 87Rb vapor cell in order to reduce the sensitivity of the measured clock frequency to various operational parameters. The preliminary result shows the improved short term stability.
In this paper we present a detailed description of a method for reduction of the light shift in laser-pumped gas-cell atomic clocks. The method consists in using a multi-frequency optical pumping obtained through frequency modulation of the laser spectrum with precisely controllable parameters. Experimental evidence of a strong reduction of the frequency dependence of the LS in an optical pumping Rb gas-cell clock is demonstrated in a large frequency interval, which is in a very good agreement with the numerical estimations reported.