Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:2507.00438 · Optics Express

Linewidth narrowing and wideband frequency modulation of a DBR laser

Jack Roth, Andrew Christensen, Madeline Bernstein, Yuno Iwasaki, Hana Lampson, Holger Müller

Published Sep 12, 2025• 0 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We present a scheme to phase-lock a 240 mW, 852 nm distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) laser to a fixed-frequency narrow-linewidth laser with a rapidly tunable frequency offset near 9 GHz. The phase-lock is accomplished by electronic feedback on the beatnote between the two lasers. The frequency offset can be swept 200 MHz in 300 µ s, limited by the feedback loop bandwidth, allowing for its use in complex cooling and state preparation schemes needed in atomic physics experiments. Additionally, we find that the phase-lock reduces the linewidth of the DBR laser below its natural linewidth of ∼400 kHz to ∼100 kHz.

DOI
10.1364/oe.572129

Related papers

Standalone optical frequency-offset locking electronics for atomic physics

K. Shalaby, T. Hunt, S. Moir +3 more

We present a standalone frequency-offset locking system for controlling narrow-linewidth lasers using off-the-shelf electronic components. We lock two frequency-doubled 1560 nm lasers to a stable primary laser operating at 780 nm via their optical beat note. This radio-frequency beat note is fed through a broadband variable divider, a frequency-to-voltage converter, and a proportional-integrator controller to lock each follower laser to a tunable offset frequency relative to the primary. This architecture provides a large capture range ($> 1$ GHz), fast response times ($< 1$ ms), and high linearity. We achieve a frequency resolution of 1.9 kHz and a short-term fractional frequency instability $10^{-11}/\sqrt{τ\rm (s)}$ at 780 nm without the need for a dedicated, precise clock reference. We perform high-resolution spectroscopy of cold $^{87}$Rb atoms to demonstrate the tunability and precision of our locking system. We designed the system to be modular and extensible, making it applicable to a wide variety of atomic physics experiments, including laser cooling, spectroscopy, and quantum sensing with atoms, ions, and molecules.

physics.atom-phCross-listedarXiv:2603.22080•Mar 24, 2026

Dual-stage quantum-referenced 795 nm DBR laser with 3.29×10 −13 /√ τ stability

Suyang Wei, Zijie Liu, Xuyan Zhou +9 more

Distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) lasers have found promising prospects in quantum sensing, cold atom physics, and precision spectroscopy. However, a broader implementation is challenged by their MHz-scale linewidths and the absence of autonomous atomic resonance alignment. Here, we demonstrate a turnkey 795 nm DBR laser system locked to the Rb 85 D 1 hyperfine transition. Our approach employs a dual-stage architecture: stage 1 utilizes the Faraday anomalous dispersion optical filter (FADOF) with optical feedback, achieving automatic frequency resonance and confinement to the vicinity of the Rb 85 D 1 line, while reducing the 1/ π integral linewidth from 461.8 kHz to 28.8 kHz, and the Lorentzian linewidth from 25.8 kHz to 426.9 Hz. This mechanism is quantitatively investigated using Lang–Kobayashi equations. Stage 2 applies modulation transfer spectroscopy (MTS) to further stabilize the frequency of the optically locked laser, which yields an Allan deviation of 3.29×10 −13 / τ . Our system unlocks DBR lasers’ potential in quantum precision measurements, offering a convenient, compact, low-noise light source for atomic clocks, magnetometers, and gyroscopes.

Photonics Research•Oct 7, 2025•2 citations

Frequency stabilization and linewidth narrowing with modulation transfer spectroscopy

Xi Zhang, Hui Liu, Kunliang Jiang +4 more

We report laser frequency stabilization with modulation transfer spectroscopy (MTS) on 85 Rb atoms. With both PZT (piezo-electric transducer) slow-loop feedback and current fastloop feedback to the laser head, we get a linewidth narrowing less than 5 kHz simultaneously. Laser injection to a laser diode and frequency beating with another polarization spectroscopy based stabilization setup are also employed to check the narrow linewidth property. With the help of the technique, a linewidth around kHz-level laser is obtained and pave the way for the locking of the lattice laser of ytterbium clock with transfer cavity technique. The setup can be used as a frequency reference for precise frequency control of atomic clock system.

Wuhan University Journal of Natural Sciences•Jan 12, 2018•0 citations

High bandwidth laser frequency locking for wideband noise suppression

Mingyong Jing, Peng Zhang, Shaoxin Yuan +3 more

Ultra-low frequency noise lasers have been widely used in laser-based experiments. Most narrow-linewidth lasers are implemented by actively suppressing their frequency noise through a frequency noise servo loop (FNSL). The loop bandwidths (LBW) of FNSLs are currently below megahertz, which is gradually tricky to meet application requirements, especially for wideband quantum sensing experiments. This article has experimentally implemented an FNSL with loop-delay-limited 3.5 MHz LBW, which is an order higher than the usual FNSLs. Using this FNSL, we achieved 70 dB laser frequency noise suppression over 100 kHz Fourier frequency range. This technology has broad applications in vast fields where wideband laser frequency noise suppression is inevitable.

arXiv:2101.11847•Optics Express•Feb 20, 2021•15 citations

Narrow Linewidth Distributed Feedback Diode Lasers for Cooling in Cold Atom Systems

Scott Watson, Eugenio Di Gaetano, Euan J. McBrearty +2 more

Distributed feedback (DFB) lasers have been realized emitting at a wavelength of 780.24 nm which demonstrate powers in excess of 60 mW with 612 kHz linewidth for use in rubidium (87Rb) cold atom systems.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics•Jan 1, 2020•2 citations

High-performance coherent population trapping atomic clock with direct-modulation distributed Bragg reflector laser

Peter Yun, Qinglin Li, Qiang Hao +7 more

Abstract The coherent population trapping (CPT) atomic clock is very promising for use in next-generation spaceborne applications owing to its compactness and high performance. In this paper, we propose and implement a CPT atomic clock based on the direct modulation of a large-modulation-bandwidth and narrow-linewidth distributed Bragg reflector laser, which replaces the usually used external bulk modulator in high-performance CPT clocks. Our method retains the high performance while significantly reducing the clock size. Using this highly compact bichromatic light source and simplest CPT configuration, in which a circularly polarized bichromatic laser interrogates the 87 Rb atom system, a CPT signal of clock transition with a narrow linewidth and high contrast is observed. We then lock the local oscillator frequency to the CPT resonance and demonstrate an encouraging short-term frequency stability of 3.6 × 10 −13 τ −1/2 (4 s ⩽ τ ⩽ 200 s). We attribute it to the ultralow laser frequency and intensity noise as well as to the high-quality-factor CPT signal. This study can pave the way for the development of compact high-performance CPT clocks based on our scheme.

arXiv:2103.00707•Metrologia•May 11, 2021•22 citations
We present a scheme to phase-lock a 240 mW, 852 nm distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) laser to a fixed-frequency narrow-linewidth laser with a rapidly tunable frequency offset near 9 GHz. The phase-lock is accomplished by electronic feedback on the beatnote between the two lasers. The frequency offset can be swept 200 MHz in 300 µ s, limited by the feedback loop bandwidth, allowing for its use in complex cooling and state preparation schemes needed in atomic physics experiments. Additionally, we find that the phase-lock reduces the linewidth of the DBR laser below its natural linewidth of ∼400 kHz to ∼100 kHz.
We present a standalone frequency-offset locking system for controlling narrow-linewidth lasers using off-the-shelf electronic components. We lock two frequency-doubled 1560 nm lasers to a stable primary laser operating at 780 nm via their optical beat note. This radio-frequency beat note is fed through a broadband variable divider, a frequency-to-voltage converter, and a proportional-integrator controller to lock each follower laser to a tunable offset frequency relative to the primary. This architecture provides a large capture range (>1> 1>1 GHz), fast response times (<1< 1<1 ms), and high linearity. We achieve a frequency resolution of 1.9 kHz and a short-term fractional frequency instability 10−11/τ(s)10^{-11}/\sqrt{τ\rm (s)}10−11/τ(s)​ at 780 nm without the need for a dedicated, precise clock reference. We perform high-resolution spectroscopy of cold 87^{87}87Rb atoms to demonstrate the tunability and precision of our locking system. We designed the system to be modular and extensible, making it applicable to a wide variety of atomic physics experiments, including laser cooling, spectroscopy, and quantum sensing with atoms, ions, and molecules.
Distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) lasers have found promising prospects in quantum sensing, cold atom physics, and precision spectroscopy. However, a broader implementation is challenged by their MHz-scale linewidths and the absence of autonomous atomic resonance alignment. Here, we demonstrate a turnkey 795 nm DBR laser system locked to the Rb 85 D 1 hyperfine transition. Our approach employs a dual-stage architecture: stage 1 utilizes the Faraday anomalous dispersion optical filter (FADOF) with optical feedback, achieving automatic frequency resonance and confinement to the vicinity of the Rb 85 D 1 line, while reducing the 1/ π integral linewidth from 461.8 kHz to 28.8 kHz, and the Lorentzian linewidth from 25.8 kHz to 426.9 Hz. This mechanism is quantitatively investigated using Lang–Kobayashi equations. Stage 2 applies modulation transfer spectroscopy (MTS) to further stabilize the frequency of the optically locked laser, which yields an Allan deviation of 3.29×10 −13 / τ . Our system unlocks DBR lasers’ potential in quantum precision measurements, offering a convenient, compact, low-noise light source for atomic clocks, magnetometers, and gyroscopes.
We report laser frequency stabilization with modulation transfer spectroscopy (MTS) on 85 Rb atoms. With both PZT (piezo-electric transducer) slow-loop feedback and current fastloop feedback to the laser head, we get a linewidth narrowing less than 5 kHz simultaneously. Laser injection to a laser diode and frequency beating with another polarization spectroscopy based stabilization setup are also employed to check the narrow linewidth property. With the help of the technique, a linewidth around kHz-level laser is obtained and pave the way for the locking of the lattice laser of ytterbium clock with transfer cavity technique. The setup can be used as a frequency reference for precise frequency control of atomic clock system.
Ultra-low frequency noise lasers have been widely used in laser-based experiments. Most narrow-linewidth lasers are implemented by actively suppressing their frequency noise through a frequency noise servo loop (FNSL). The loop bandwidths (LBW) of FNSLs are currently below megahertz, which is gradually tricky to meet application requirements, especially for wideband quantum sensing experiments. This article has experimentally implemented an FNSL with loop-delay-limited 3.5 MHz LBW, which is an order higher than the usual FNSLs. Using this FNSL, we achieved 70 dB laser frequency noise suppression over 100 kHz Fourier frequency range. This technology has broad applications in vast fields where wideband laser frequency noise suppression is inevitable.
Abstract The coherent population trapping (CPT) atomic clock is very promising for use in next-generation spaceborne applications owing to its compactness and high performance. In this paper, we propose and implement a CPT atomic clock based on the direct modulation of a large-modulation-bandwidth and narrow-linewidth distributed Bragg reflector laser, which replaces the usually used external bulk modulator in high-performance CPT clocks. Our method retains the high performance while significantly reducing the clock size. Using this highly compact bichromatic light source and simplest CPT configuration, in which a circularly polarized bichromatic laser interrogates the 87 Rb atom system, a CPT signal of clock transition with a narrow linewidth and high contrast is observed. We then lock the local oscillator frequency to the CPT resonance and demonstrate an encouraging short-term frequency stability of 3.6 × 10 −13 τ −1/2 (4 s ⩽ τ ⩽ 200 s). We attribute it to the ultralow laser frequency and intensity noise as well as to the high-quality-factor CPT signal. This study can pave the way for the development of compact high-performance CPT clocks based on our scheme.