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arXiv:2109.03864 · Applied Physics Letters

Multi-frequency telecom fibered laser system for potassium laser cooling

Charbel Cherfan, Maxime Denis, Denis Bacquet, Michel Gamot, Samir Zemmouri, Isam Manai, Jean‐François Clément, Jean Claude Garreau, Pascal Szriftgiser, Radu Chicireanu

Published Nov 15, 2021• 3 citations

Abstract

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.

DOI: 10.1063/5.0070646

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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.

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.

We demonstrate a laser frequency stabilization technique for laser cooling of potassium atoms, based on saturated absorption spectroscopy in the C-Band optical telecommunication window, using ro-vibrational transitions of the acetylene molecule (12C2H2). We identified and characterized several molecular lines, which allow to address each of the potassium D2 (767 nm) and D1 (770 nm) cooling transitions, thanks to a high-power second harmonic generation (SHG) stage. We successfully used this laser system to cool the 41K isotope of potassium in a 2D-3D Magneto-Optical Traps setup.

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).

In conclusion, we have developed a new laser system to laser cool rubidium atoms based on frequency doubling of a 1560 nm fiber bench. The use of telecom components gives us a reliable and compact system robust compare to environmental perturbations. Our laser system should find applications for onboard cold atoms experiments like inertial captors or atomic clocks. For example, our laser could be used in matter wave interferometers in space like the project ICE supported by CNES. We should also point out that our laser system can also address potassium atoms which have a laser cooling wavelength of 767 nm.

We demonstrate a laser frequency stabilization technique for laser cooling of potassium atoms, based on saturated absorption spectroscopy in the C-Band optical telecommunication window, using ro-vibrational transitions of the acetylene molecule (12 C 2 H 2). We identified and characterized several molecular lines, which allow to address each of the potassium D2 (767 nm) and D1 (770 nm) cooling transitions, thanks to a high-power second harmonic generation (SHG) stage. We successfully used this laser system to cool the 41 K isotope of potassium in a 2D-3D Magneto-Optical Traps setup.

We report a compact and robust architecture of a versatile laser system that allows the implementation of several advanced atom interferometry techniques, such as Bragg diffraction, Bloch oscillations, or single and double Raman diffraction. A low noise, frequency tunable fiber-laser (λ = ~1560 nm) serves as the seed. A couple of fiber-coupled amplifiers followed by two fibered second-harmonic generators produce a pair of phase-locked, frequency-controllable laser beams at 780 nm. Manipulating frequencies of individual laser beams at λ = 1560 nm before the amplifiers, facilitates achieving a maximum relative detuning of ± 20 MHz, while maintaining a constant output power. We present the scheme to implement Raman spectroscopy using our laser system and discuss its advantages. Finally, the overall performance of the laser setup has been evaluated by realizing interferometers in copropagating Ramsey-Raman and counterpropagating Bragg configuration.