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arXiv:2204.12537 · Science Advances

High-performance silicon photonic single-sideband modulators for cold-atom interferometry

Ashok Kodigala, Michael R. Gehl, Gregory W. Hoth, Jongmin Lee, Christopher Todd Derose, Andrew T. S. Pomerene, Christina M. Dallo, Douglas C. Trotter, Andrew Starbuck, Grant W. Biedermann, Peter D. D. Schwindt, Anthony L. Lentine

Published Jul 10, 2024• 29 citations

Abstract

The laser system is the most complex component of a light-pulse atom interferometer (LPAI), controlling frequencies and intensities of multiple laser beams to configure quantum gravity and inertial sensors. Its main functions include cold-atom generation, state preparation, state-selective detection, and generating a coherent two-photon process for the light-pulse sequence. To achieve substantial miniaturization and ruggedization, we integrate key laser system functions onto a photonic integrated circuit. Our study focuses on a high-performance silicon photonic suppressed-carrier single-sideband (SC-SSB) modulator at 1560 nanometers, capable of dynamic frequency shifting within the LPAI. By independently controlling radio frequency (RF) channels, we achieve 30-decibel carrier suppression and unprecedented 47.8-decibel sideband suppression at peak conversion efficiency of −6.846 decibels (20.7%). We investigate imbalances in both amplitudes and phases between the RF signals. Using this modulator, we demonstrate cold-atom generation, state-selective detection, and atom interferometer fringes to estimate gravitational acceleration, g ≈ 9.77 ± 0.01 meters per second squared, in a rubidium ( 87 Rb) atom system.

DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ade4454

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Nature Communications•Sep 1, 2022•101 citations

The laser system is the most complex component of a light-pulse atom interferometer (LPAI), controlling frequencies and intensities of multiple laser beams to configure quantum gravity and inertial sensors. Its main functions include cold-atom generation, state preparation, state-selective detection, and generating a coherent two-photon process for the light-pulse sequence. To achieve substantial miniaturization and ruggedization, we integrate key laser system functions onto a photonic integrated circuit. Our study focuses on a high-performance silicon photonic suppressed-carrier single-sideband (SC-SSB) modulator at 1560 nanometers, capable of dynamic frequency shifting within the LPAI. By independently controlling radio frequency (RF) channels, we achieve 30-decibel carrier suppression and unprecedented 47.8-decibel sideband suppression at peak conversion efficiency of −6.846 decibels (20.7%). We investigate imbalances in both amplitudes and phases between the RF signals. Using this modulator, we demonstrate cold-atom generation, state-selective detection, and atom interferometer fringes to estimate gravitational acceleration, g ≈ 9.77 ± 0.01 meters per second squared, in a rubidium ( 87 Rb) atom system.

We present an electro-optic modulation technique that enables a single laser diode to realize a cold-atom source and a quantum inertial sensor based on matter-wave interferometry. Using carrier-suppressed dual-single-sideband modulation, an in-phase and quadrature modulator generates two optical sidebands from separate radio-frequency (rf) signals. These sidebands are controlled independently in frequency, phase, and power using standard rf components. Our laser source exhibits improved rejection of parasitic sidebands compared to those based on phase modulators, which generate large systematic shifts in atom interferometers. We measure the influence of residual laser lines on an atom-interferometric gravimeter and show agreement with a theoretical model. We estimate a reduction of the systematic shift by 2 orders of magnitude compared to previous architectures and reach a long-term sensitivity of

15\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\mathrm{n}g

on the gravitational acceleration with an interrogation time of only

T=20\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\mathrm{ms}

. Finally, we characterize the performance of our integrated laser system and show that it is suitable for mobile sensing applications, including gravity surveys and inertial navigation.

This paper reports on a detailed performance characterization of a recently developed optical single-sideband (OSSB) laser system based on an IQ modulator and second-harmonic generation for rubidium atom interferometry experiments. The measured performance is used to evaluate the noise contributions of this OSSB laser system when it is applied to drive stimulated Raman transitions in 87 R b for precision measurements of gravitational acceleration. The laser system suppresses unwanted sideband components, but additional phase shift compensation must be applied when performing frequency chirps with such an OSSB laser system. The total phase noise contribution of the OSSB laser system in the current experiment is 72 mrad for a single atom interferometry sequence with interrogation times of T = 120 m s , which corresponds to a relative precision of 32 ng per shot. The dominant noise sources are found in the relative power fluctuations between sideband and carrier components and the phase noise of the microwave source.

We present an all-digital method for stabilizing the phase biases in an electro-optic I/Q modulator for carrier-suppressed single-sideband (CS-SSB) modulation. Using programmable logic on the Red Pitaya STEMlab 125-14 platform, we digitally generate and demodulate an auxiliary radio-frequency tone whose beat with the optical carrier probes the I/Q modulator’s phase imbalances. We implement a multiple-input, multiple-output integral feedback controller that accounts for unavoidable cross-couplings in the phase biases to lock the error signals at exactly zero, where optical power fluctuations have no impact on phase stability. We demonstrate >23dB suppression of the optical carrier relative to the desired sideband at +3.4GHz over a period of 15 h and over temperature variations of 20°C.

The extreme miniaturization of a cold-atom interferometer accelerometer requires the development of novel technologies and architectures for the interferometer subsystems. Here we describe several component technologies and a laser system architecture to enable a path to such miniaturization. We developed a custom, compact titanium vacuum package containing a microfabricated grating chip for a tetrahedral grating magneto-optical trap (GMOT) using a single cooling beam. In addition, we designed a multi-channel photonic-integrated-circuit-compatible laser system implemented with a single seed laser and single sideband modulators in a time-multiplexed manner, reducing the number of optical channels connected to the sensor head. In a compact sensor head containing the vacuum package, sub-Doppler cooling in the GMOT produces 15 uK temperatures, and the GMOT can operate at a 20 Hz data rate. We validated the atomic coherence with Ramsey interferometry using microwave spectroscopy, then demonstrated a light-pulse atom interferometer in a gravimeter configuration for a 10 Hz measurement data rate and T = 0 - 4.5 ms interrogation time, resulting in

Δ

g / g = 2.0e-6. This work represents a significant step towards deployable cold-atom inertial sensors under large amplitude motional dynamics.

Abstract The extreme miniaturization of a cold-atom interferometer accelerometer requires the development of novel technologies and architectures for the interferometer subsystems. We describe several component technologies and a laser system architecture to enable a path to such miniaturization. We developed a custom, compact titanium vacuum package containing a microfabricated grating chip for a tetrahedral grating magneto-optical trap (GMOT) using a single cooling beam. The vacuum package is integrated into the optomechanical design of a compact cold-atom sensor head with fixed optical components. In addition, a multichannel laser system driven by a single seed laser has been implemented with time-multiplexed frequency shifting using single sideband modulators, reducing the number of optical channels connected to the sensor head. This laser system architecture is compatible with a highly miniaturized photonic integrated circuit approach, and by demonstrating atom-interferometer operation with this laser system, we show feasibility for the integrated photonic approach. In the compact sensor head, sub-Doppler cooling in the GMOT produces 15 μK temperatures, which can operate at a 20 Hz data rate for the atom interferometer sequence. After validating atomic coherence with Ramsey interferometry, we demonstrate a light-pulse atom interferometer in a gravimeter configuration without vibration isolation for 10 Hz measurement cycle rate and T = 0 - 4.5 ms interrogation time, resulting in Δg/g = 2.0e-6. All these efforts demonstrate progress towards deployable cold-atom inertial sensors under large amplitude motional dynamics.