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Characterization of a Zeeman Slower Designed for a 87 Sr Optical Clock

Jonas Olsson

Published Jan 1, 2015• 0 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

Optical clocks will potentially become the new frequency standard for the SI-definition of the second. Many national metrology institutes around the world have already implemented different versions of such clocks and others are in process of doing so. At SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden, this process has recently begun. This thesis investigates the properties of the Zeeman slower that is to be used as part of the clock. A simple Gaussmeter was constructed from a semiconductor Hall sensor and used to measure the magnetic field profile of the slower. This report also contains the design for an electronic control circuit based on the Arduino platform, which can be used to control the magnetic field. The results showed that the particular slower investigated here will likely not need a control circuit. However, the control circuit can be used in other optical clocks or even in other applications.

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Transverse Zeeman slower composed of an array of permanent magnets is investigated for Sr optical clock. We calculated the magnetic field distribution of 88 Sr atoms based on experimental condition, achieving a reduction of the velocity of atoms from 410 m/s to 50 m/s. The atoms flux through the transverse magnetic field was 7.9×105. Such permanent Zeeman slower needs no high currents or water cooling and the spatial distribution of its magnetic field can be adjusted. Another advantage of this Zeeman slower is its small size and high reliability. Therefore, a miniature Zeeman slower can be attained.

Journal of Time and Frequency•Jan 1, 2014•0 citations

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Abstract We present a modular Zeeman slower (ZS) based on permanent magnets, designed for miniaturized quantum sensor applications like Sr optical lattice clocks. Using a longitudinal magnetic field geometry, the 3D printed system replicates the field profile of traditional solenoid-based ZSs without power consumption or active cooling. The ZS achieves comparable performance to solenoid-based designs, with a similar number of Sr atoms loaded into the magneto-optical trap at 461 nm transition. This approach offers a low-cost, low-power solution for portable quantum technologies.

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Optical atomic clocks have proven to be the most stable clocks with the lowest systematic uncertainty which has now reached a record level of (9.4 X10/(^{19}/)). Thus optical clocks now surpass the best fountain Cs atomic clocks by three orders of magnitude which opens the prospect of using optical clocks as frequency standards for timekeeping in the near future. \n \nThis thesis describes the progress that has been made towards a stationary optical lattice clock based on strontium atoms, and reports the results of an ongoing characterization. \n \nAn experimental apparatus was designed and built to efficiently slow, cool, and trap the strontium atoms which represent the heart of the strontium optical lattice clock discussed in this thesis. The novel aspects of the experimental development described in the thesis comprise a frequency doubling cavity for producing 461 nm laser light employed for cooling and trapping the strontium atoms in the first stage cooling. This cavity provided sufficient power for cooling and trapping the strontium atoms for up to 300 mW of 461 nm laser light. Furthermore, a new design of Zeeman slower based on spherical permanent magnets was produced, built and characterized. \n \nThe slower is compact, tunable, easy to assemble and maintain, and cost-effective as the permanent magnets do not require any power supply or water cooling. It is suggested that this kind of Zeeman slower constitutes an ideal solution for portable optical clock systems. A blue magneto-optical trap was realized for the first time with such a Zeeman slower. With about 30 mW of a 461 nm laser, up to 6X10/(^8/) atoms were captured.

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The1S0-3P0transition in neutral strontium is being considered as one of the choices for the future redefinition of the SI second. At the National Physical Laboratory we are designing and implementing an optical clock based on this transition, holding the atoms in an optical lattice during the clock interrogation cycle, which greatly increases the potential accuracy of the clock. Our focus is on building a compact experimental system (including a novel permanent-magnet-based Zeeman slower) designed with the ability to assess systematic frequency shifts in mind, especially those related to blackbody radiation. Further study of systematic effects and additional intercomparisons of experimental results from different laboratories are being pursued with a view to gaining support for a future redefinition.

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Progress towards a strontium optical lattice clock at NPL

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Designing Zeeman slower for strontium atoms - towards optical atomic clock

Marcin Bober, Jerzy Zachorowski, Wojciech Gawlik

We report on design and construction of a Zeeman slower for strontium atoms which will be used in an optical atomic clock experiment. The paper describes briefly required specifications of the device, possible solutions, and concentrates on the chosen design. The magnetic field produced by the built Zeeman slower has been measured and compared with the simulations. The system consisting of an oven and Zeeman slower are designed to produce an atomic beam of 10-12 s-1 flux and final velocity of ~30 m/s.

arXiv:1006.1554•Optica Applicata•Jun 8, 2010•7 citations
Optical clocks will potentially become the new frequency standard for the SI-definition of the second. Many national metrology institutes around the world have already implemented different versions of such clocks and others are in process of doing so. At SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden, this process has recently begun. This thesis investigates the properties of the Zeeman slower that is to be used as part of the clock. A simple Gaussmeter was constructed from a semiconductor Hall sensor and used to measure the magnetic field profile of the slower. This report also contains the design for an electronic control circuit based on the Arduino platform, which can be used to control the magnetic field. The results showed that the particular slower investigated here will likely not need a control circuit. However, the control circuit can be used in other optical clocks or even in other applications.
Transverse Zeeman slower composed of an array of permanent magnets is investigated for Sr optical clock. We calculated the magnetic field distribution of 88 Sr atoms based on experimental condition, achieving a reduction of the velocity of atoms from 410 m/s to 50 m/s. The atoms flux through the transverse magnetic field was 7.9×105. Such permanent Zeeman slower needs no high currents or water cooling and the spatial distribution of its magnetic field can be adjusted. Another advantage of this Zeeman slower is its small size and high reliability. Therefore, a miniature Zeeman slower can be attained.
Abstract We present a modular Zeeman slower (ZS) based on permanent magnets, designed for miniaturized quantum sensor applications like Sr optical lattice clocks. Using a longitudinal magnetic field geometry, the 3D printed system replicates the field profile of traditional solenoid-based ZSs without power consumption or active cooling. The ZS achieves comparable performance to solenoid-based designs, with a similar number of Sr atoms loaded into the magneto-optical trap at 461 nm transition. This approach offers a low-cost, low-power solution for portable quantum technologies.
Optical atomic clocks have proven to be the most stable clocks with the lowest systematic uncertainty which has now reached a record level of (9.4 X10/(^{19}/)). Thus optical clocks now surpass the best fountain Cs atomic clocks by three orders of magnitude which opens the prospect of using optical clocks as frequency standards for timekeeping in the near future. \n \nThis thesis describes the progress that has been made towards a stationary optical lattice clock based on strontium atoms, and reports the results of an ongoing characterization. \n \nAn experimental apparatus was designed and built to efficiently slow, cool, and trap the strontium atoms which represent the heart of the strontium optical lattice clock discussed in this thesis. The novel aspects of the experimental development described in the thesis comprise a frequency doubling cavity for producing 461 nm laser light employed for cooling and trapping the strontium atoms in the first stage cooling. This cavity provided sufficient power for cooling and trapping the strontium atoms for up to 300 mW of 461 nm laser light. Furthermore, a new design of Zeeman slower based on spherical permanent magnets was produced, built and characterized. \n \nThe slower is compact, tunable, easy to assemble and maintain, and cost-effective as the permanent magnets do not require any power supply or water cooling. It is suggested that this kind of Zeeman slower constitutes an ideal solution for portable optical clock systems. A blue magneto-optical trap was realized for the first time with such a Zeeman slower. With about 30 mW of a 461 nm laser, up to 6X10/(^8/) atoms were captured.
The1S0-3P0transition in neutral strontium is being considered as one of the choices for the future redefinition of the SI second. At the National Physical Laboratory we are designing and implementing an optical clock based on this transition, holding the atoms in an optical lattice during the clock interrogation cycle, which greatly increases the potential accuracy of the clock. Our focus is on building a compact experimental system (including a novel permanent-magnet-based Zeeman slower) designed with the ability to assess systematic frequency shifts in mind, especially those related to blackbody radiation. Further study of systematic effects and additional intercomparisons of experimental results from different laboratories are being pursued with a view to gaining support for a future redefinition.
The1S0-3P0transition at 698 nm in neutral strontium has the potential to be an extremely precise optical frequency standard [1] and is one of several candidates for a future redefinition of the second. Recent measurements of this transition at three national laboratories around the world have fractional frequency uncertainties in the 1015range and agree to within a hertz [2,3,4]. To realise fully the potential accuracy of this frequency standard, in depth studies of systematic effects need to be performed in order to characterise them at the level necessary for a redefinition of the second. At the National Physical Laboratory we are developing a compact, diode laser based optical lattice clock. We intend to study the clock transition in both88Sr and87Sr with focus on the uncertainties in the frequency shifts due to blackbody radiation. The setup incorporates a novel permanent magnet based Zeeman slower [5].
We report on design and construction of a Zeeman slower for strontium atoms which will be used in an optical atomic clock experiment. The paper describes briefly required specifications of the device, possible solutions, and concentrates on the chosen design. The magnetic field produced by the built Zeeman slower has been measured and compared with the simulations. The system consisting of an oven and Zeeman slower are designed to produce an atomic beam of 10-12 s-1 flux and final velocity of ~30 m/s.