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Optics Letters

Atomic-based stabilization for laser-pumped atomic clocks

Vladislav P. Gerginov, Vishal Shah, Svenja A. Knappe, Leo W. Hollberg, John E. Kitching

Published May 25, 2006• 24 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We describe a novel technique for stabilizing frequency shifts in laser-interrogated vapor-cell atomic clocks. The method suppresses frequency shifts due to changes in the laser frequency, intensity, and modulation index as well as atomic vapor density. The clock operating parameters are monitored by using the atoms themselves, rather than by using conventional schemes for laser frequency and cell temperature control. The experiment is realized using a chip-scale atomic clock. The novel atomic-based stabilization approach results in a simpler setup and improved long-term performance.

DOI
10.1364/ol.31.001851

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We describe a novel technique for stabilizing frequency shifts in laser-interrogated vapor-cell atomic clocks. The method suppresses frequency shifts due to changes in the laser frequency, intensity, and modulation index as well as atomic vapor density. The clock operating parameters are monitored by using the atoms themselves, rather than by using conventional schemes for laser frequency and cell temperature control. The experiment is realized using a chip-scale atomic clock. The novel atomic-based stabilization approach results in a simpler setup and improved long-term performance.
We present an evaluation of the long-term frequency instability and environmental sensitivity of a chip-scale atomic clock based on coherent population trapping, particularly as affected by the light-source subassembly. The long-term frequency stability of this type of device can be dramatically improved by judicious choice of operating parameters of the light-source subassembly. We find that the clock frequency is influenced by the laser-injection current, the laser temperature, and the rf modulation index. The sensitivity of the clock frequency to changes in the laser-injection current or the substrate temperature can be significantly reduced through adjustment of the rf modulation index. This makes the requirements imposed on the laser-temperature stabilization, in order to achieve a given frequency stability, less severe. The clock-frequency instability due to variations in local oscillator power is shown to be reduced through the choice of an appropriate light intensity inside the cell. The importance of these parameters with regard to the long-term stability of such systems is discussed.
We present a compact and power-efficient method for stabilizing the output power of a diode laser by leveraging its integrated temperature control. We demonstrate that this approach is highly effective in mitigating slow power drift. In particular, we verify that the power stabilization loop introduces negligible perturbation to the frequency stability and is even beneficial for an optimized gain. We confirm the practical benefit of this technique by applying it to an Rb vapor cell atomic clock, showing a measurable improvement in the clock’s long-term frequency stability by mitigating the instability induced by the light shift. This method offers a solution for miniaturized quantum sensors requiring stable, continuous-wave interrogation.
We report a simple method to suppress the light shift in optical pumping systems. This method uses only frequency modulation of a radio frequency or microwave source, which is used to excite an atomic resonance, to simultaneously lock the source frequency to the atomic resonance and lock the pumping light frequency to suppress the light shift. We experimentally validate the method in a vapor-cell atomic clock and verify the results through numerical simulation. This technique can be applied to many optical pumping systems that experience light shifts. It is especially useful for atomic frequency standards because it improves long-term performance, reduces the influence of the laser, and requires less equipment than previous methods.
Abstract Chip-scale atomic clocks based on coherent population trapping (CPT) face challenges due to miniaturized gas cells, which reduces the CPT resonance signal and the absorption signals of alkali atoms. To overcome this, we propose a method that simultaneously stabilizes the laser wavelength and microwave modulation frequency without relying on absorption line detection. Our approach enables stabilization at the point where the amplitude of the CPT resonance signal is maximized, making it suitable for compact atomic clocks. The system uses three lock-in amplifiers: one is used to stabilize the RF modulation frequency, and the other two are used for detecting the amplitude of the CPT resonance and stabilizing the laser wavelength. The Allan deviation measurements demonstrate a 1.4-fold improvement in short-term stability compared to conventional methods, suggesting that the proposed technique is a promising solution for enhancing the performance of small gas-cell atomic clocks.