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:2609.09846

Miniaturized vacuum package for magneto-optical trapping of strontium

Julian Pick, Eric Henker, Florian Löwinger, Rick Vogt, S. Hüttl, Andreas Trützschler, Julia Voß, Simon Hirt, Malte Schulz‐Ruhtenberg, Aleksandra Buchta, Alexander Kassner, Folke Dencker, Marc Wurz, Stephan Hannig, Simone Callegari, Saskia Bondza, Jens Kruse, Tobias Leopold, R. Schwarz, Carsten Klempt

Published Sep 9, 2026• 0 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Quantum sensors, like optical lattice clocks, undergo a continuous development from lab-based towards mobile systems. A key aspect in the miniaturization of the experimental setups is the development of compact atom sources. Conventional atom sources for alkaline-earth-like elements consist of a high-power oven and a six-beam magneto-optical trap (MOT) inside of vacuum chamber with extensive flanges, viewports and electrical feedthroughs. Here we present a highly compact vacuum package utilizing key technologies for future quantum sensor systems: A chip-based low-power atomic oven, a planar grating MOT chip, and a miniaturized vacuum pump all held inside an additively manufactured titanium vacuum chamber, featuring custom-sized vacuum flanges. In this miniaturized setup, spanning a volume of only 750 ml, we trap up to $10^5$ Sr atoms in a MOT, requiring an oven heating power below 1 W.

DOI
10.48550/arxiv.2609.09846

Related papers

Miniaturized setups for magneto-optical trapping of ytterbium and strontium

Roman Schwarz, Julia Voß, Florian Löwinger +6 more

Optical lattice clocks utilizing strontium (Sr) and ytterbium (Yb) are essential for high-precision metrology and the maintenance of critical infrastructure; however, their practical deployment is currently hindered by significant size, weight, and power (SWaP) constraints. While recent advancements have led to more compact architectures, the footprint and energy consumption of the atomic source remain a primary bottleneck. In this work, we demonstrate key miniaturization technologies: a micro-structured chip-based oven and in-vacuum optics that enable a 3D magneto-optical trap (MOT) using only a single laser beam. When integrated with a pyramid reflector MOT, the LIDE-fabricated oven achieves loading rates exceeding 108 174Yb atoms/s at heating powers below 0.3 W. Furthermore, we demonstrate the trapping of 105 Sr atoms evaporated from the micro-oven within a compact, additively manufactured titanium vacuum chamber (V < 0.75 l) utilizing a grating-chip-based 88Sr MOT.

•Sep 11, 2026•0 citations

Miniaturized setups for magneto-optical trapping of ytterbium and strontium

Julian Pick, Julia Voß, Florian Löwinger +6 more

Optical lattice clocks based on ytterbium (Yb) and strontium (Sr) are emerging as key technologies in precision timekeeping and metrology. Recent advancements in miniaturization and transportability are making them increasingly accessible for applications outside traditional laboratory settings. However, the degree of miniaturization is limited by the atomic source that is used to provide laser-cooled atoms for the clock spectroscopy. Conventional atomic sources for optical lattice clocks consist of a high-power oven and a magneto-optical trap (MOT) that requires six incident laser beams for three-dimensional trapping and cooling. Here, we present technologies that allow a significant miniaturization of the required experimental setups to realize a MOT for Yb and Sr. These are a chip-based microstructured atomic oven and in-vacuum optical elements that require only a single incident laser beam to generate all of the required beams for three-dimensional trapping and cooling. The oven was manufactured with LIDE® (laser induced deep etching). It was paired with an aluminum pyramid reflector to load Yb atoms into a MOT. The oven was placed directly at the outside of the reflector, forming a compact setup that is used for atom evaporation and direct trapping and cooling. In this configuration, MOT loading rates above 10^8 atoms/s were measured for oven heating powers below 250 mW. Furthermore, the microstructured oven was paired with a grating MOT chip inside a highly compact vacuum chamber. The chamber was additively manufactured from titanium and the assembled setup spans a volume of less than 750 ml. In this setup, up to 10^5 Sr atoms were trapped in the MOT.

•Jan 1, 2026•0 citations

Low-power microstructured atomic oven for alkaline-earth-like elements

Schwarz, Roman, Pick, Julian, Kruse, Jens +4 more

The development of miniaturized atomic ovens for quantum sensors is a key advancement in compact optical clocks for portable and space applications. Our novel oven for alkaline-earth-like elements, made from microstructured fused silica, offers low power consumption and sufficient reservoir lifetime. It demonstrates high efficiency atom evaporation below 0.3 W of heating power and achieves loading rates in a magneto-optical trap (MOT) of up to 10^9 atoms/s. The compact design eliminates the need for large deceleration devices and can be integrated into quantum systems with stringent size, weight, and power (SWaP) requirements. Our innovation is critical for advancing quantum technologies in precision metrology to space-based platforms.

•May 15, 2025•0 citations

Direct loading of a Sr magneto-optical trap from a thermal atomic beam

Naohiro Okamoto, Takumi Sato, T. Aoki +1 more

We demonstrate direct loading of a strontium (Sr) magneto-optical trap (MOT) from a thermal atomic beam in a single-chamber vacuum system. The MOT operates without a Zeeman slower, a slowing laser, a two-dimensional MOT, or differential pumping, while the entire system is maintained in the ultra-high-vacuum regime by a single ion pump. At an oven temperature of 395 °C, the MOT captures up to 107 88Sr atoms with a loading rate of 107 atoms s-1, while sustaining a background gas pressure of 1 × 10-9 Torr. At this oven temperature, the MOT lifetime limited by collisions with background gas is ∼5s, with the atom number primarily constrained by light-assisted two-body collisions. Eliminating differential pumping and precooling stages significantly reduces the system's size, weight, and power requirements, providing a robust and practical platform for field-deployable and spaceborne optical lattice clocks, as well as a variety of other applications requiring compact ultracold atom sources.

arXiv:2509.13764•Review of Scientific Instruments•Mar 1, 2026•1 citation

Confinement of an alkaline-earth element in a grating magneto-optical trap

Ananya Sitaram, Peter K. Elgee, Gretchen K. Campbell +3 more

We demonstrate a compact magneto-optical trap (MOT) of alkaline-earth atoms using a nanofabricated diffraction grating chip. A single input laser beam, resonant with the broad 1S0 → 1P1 transition of strontium, forms the MOT in combination with three diffracted beams from the grating chip and a magnetic field produced by permanent magnets. A differential pumping tube limits the effect of the heated, effusive source on the background pressure in the trapping region. The system has a total volume of around 2.4 l. With our setup, we have trapped up to 5 × 106 88Sr atoms at a temperature of ∼6 mK, and with a trap lifetime of ∼1 s. Our results will aid the effort to miniaturize quantum technologies based on alkaline-earth atoms.

arXiv:2006.05369•Review of Scientific Instruments•Oct 1, 2020•43 citations

Low-power microstructured atomic oven for alkaline-earth-like elements

Julian Pick, J. Voß, Simon Hirt +4 more

Alkaline-earth-like elements play pivotal roles in advanced quantum sensing technologies, notably optical clocks, with unprecedented precision achieved in recent years. Despite remarkable progress, current optical-lattice clocks still face challenges in meeting the demanding size, weight, and power consumption constraints essential for space applications. Conventional atom sources, such as ovens or dispensers, require substantial heating power, which makes up a significant fraction of the overall power consumption of the system. Addressing this challenge, we present a microstructured atomic oven based on fused silica, designed for miniaturization and low-power operation. We characterize the oven by loading a magneto-optical trap with Yb evaporated from the oven and demonstrate operation with a loading rate above 10 8 atoms / s for heating powers below 250 mW.

arXiv:2408.12471•Physical Review Applied•Jan 8, 2025•5 citations
Quantum sensors, like optical lattice clocks, undergo a continuous development from lab-based towards mobile systems. A key aspect in the miniaturization of the experimental setups is the development of compact atom sources. Conventional atom sources for alkaline-earth-like elements consist of a high-power oven and a six-beam magneto-optical trap (MOT) inside of vacuum chamber with extensive flanges, viewports and electrical feedthroughs. Here we present a highly compact vacuum package utilizing key technologies for future quantum sensor systems: A chip-based low-power atomic oven, a planar grating MOT chip, and a miniaturized vacuum pump all held inside an additively manufactured titanium vacuum chamber, featuring custom-sized vacuum flanges. In this miniaturized setup, spanning a volume of only 750 ml, we trap up to 10510^5105 Sr atoms in a MOT, requiring an oven heating power below 1 W.
Optical lattice clocks utilizing strontium (Sr) and ytterbium (Yb) are essential for high-precision metrology and the maintenance of critical infrastructure; however, their practical deployment is currently hindered by significant size, weight, and power (SWaP) constraints. While recent advancements have led to more compact architectures, the footprint and energy consumption of the atomic source remain a primary bottleneck. In this work, we demonstrate key miniaturization technologies: a micro-structured chip-based oven and in-vacuum optics that enable a 3D magneto-optical trap (MOT) using only a single laser beam. When integrated with a pyramid reflector MOT, the LIDE-fabricated oven achieves loading rates exceeding 108 174Yb atoms/s at heating powers below 0.3 W. Furthermore, we demonstrate the trapping of 105 Sr atoms evaporated from the micro-oven within a compact, additively manufactured titanium vacuum chamber (V < 0.75 l) utilizing a grating-chip-based 88Sr MOT.
Optical lattice clocks based on ytterbium (Yb) and strontium (Sr) are emerging as key technologies in precision timekeeping and metrology. Recent advancements in miniaturization and transportability are making them increasingly accessible for applications outside traditional laboratory settings. However, the degree of miniaturization is limited by the atomic source that is used to provide laser-cooled atoms for the clock spectroscopy. Conventional atomic sources for optical lattice clocks consist of a high-power oven and a magneto-optical trap (MOT) that requires six incident laser beams for three-dimensional trapping and cooling. Here, we present technologies that allow a significant miniaturization of the required experimental setups to realize a MOT for Yb and Sr. These are a chip-based microstructured atomic oven and in-vacuum optical elements that require only a single incident laser beam to generate all of the required beams for three-dimensional trapping and cooling. The oven was manufactured with LIDE® (laser induced deep etching). It was paired with an aluminum pyramid reflector to load Yb atoms into a MOT. The oven was placed directly at the outside of the reflector, forming a compact setup that is used for atom evaporation and direct trapping and cooling. In this configuration, MOT loading rates above 10^8 atoms/s were measured for oven heating powers below 250 mW. Furthermore, the microstructured oven was paired with a grating MOT chip inside a highly compact vacuum chamber. The chamber was additively manufactured from titanium and the assembled setup spans a volume of less than 750 ml. In this setup, up to 10^5 Sr atoms were trapped in the MOT.
The development of miniaturized atomic ovens for quantum sensors is a key advancement in compact optical clocks for portable and space applications. Our novel oven for alkaline-earth-like elements, made from microstructured fused silica, offers low power consumption and sufficient reservoir lifetime. It demonstrates high efficiency atom evaporation below 0.3 W of heating power and achieves loading rates in a magneto-optical trap (MOT) of up to 10^9 atoms/s. The compact design eliminates the need for large deceleration devices and can be integrated into quantum systems with stringent size, weight, and power (SWaP) requirements. Our innovation is critical for advancing quantum technologies in precision metrology to space-based platforms.
We demonstrate direct loading of a strontium (Sr) magneto-optical trap (MOT) from a thermal atomic beam in a single-chamber vacuum system. The MOT operates without a Zeeman slower, a slowing laser, a two-dimensional MOT, or differential pumping, while the entire system is maintained in the ultra-high-vacuum regime by a single ion pump. At an oven temperature of 395 °C, the MOT captures up to 107 88Sr atoms with a loading rate of 107 atoms s-1, while sustaining a background gas pressure of 1 × 10-9 Torr. At this oven temperature, the MOT lifetime limited by collisions with background gas is ∼5s, with the atom number primarily constrained by light-assisted two-body collisions. Eliminating differential pumping and precooling stages significantly reduces the system's size, weight, and power requirements, providing a robust and practical platform for field-deployable and spaceborne optical lattice clocks, as well as a variety of other applications requiring compact ultracold atom sources.
We demonstrate a compact magneto-optical trap (MOT) of alkaline-earth atoms using a nanofabricated diffraction grating chip. A single input laser beam, resonant with the broad 1S0 → 1P1 transition of strontium, forms the MOT in combination with three diffracted beams from the grating chip and a magnetic field produced by permanent magnets. A differential pumping tube limits the effect of the heated, effusive source on the background pressure in the trapping region. The system has a total volume of around 2.4 l. With our setup, we have trapped up to 5 × 106 88Sr atoms at a temperature of ∼6 mK, and with a trap lifetime of ∼1 s. Our results will aid the effort to miniaturize quantum technologies based on alkaline-earth atoms.
Alkaline-earth-like elements play pivotal roles in advanced quantum sensing technologies, notably optical clocks, with unprecedented precision achieved in recent years. Despite remarkable progress, current optical-lattice clocks still face challenges in meeting the demanding size, weight, and power consumption constraints essential for space applications. Conventional atom sources, such as ovens or dispensers, require substantial heating power, which makes up a significant fraction of the overall power consumption of the system. Addressing this challenge, we present a microstructured atomic oven based on fused silica, designed for miniaturization and low-power operation. We characterize the oven by loading a magneto-optical trap with Yb evaporated from the oven and demonstrate operation with a loading rate above 10 8 atoms / s for heating powers below 250 mW.