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

Journal of Applied Physics

Regenerative Rubidium Maser Oscillator

Maurice Arditi, T. R. Carver

Published Feb 1, 1965• 8 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Continuous self-sustained oscillations at 6834 Mc/sec were obtained with an optically pumped rubidium maser amplifier in a regenerative feedback loop. Some additional gain introduced by a parametric amplifier was required. The use of pulsed light for optical pumping permits the study of the oscillation build-up under various experimental conditions.

DOI
10.1063/1.1714008

Related papers

Experimental Study of the Laser Diode Pumped Rubidium Maser

A. Michaud, Pierre Tremblay, M. Têtu

We report the operation of a $^{87}$Rb maser in the self-oscillating mode, using a laser diode as the optical pumping source. The maser uses a TE$_{021}$ cavity surrounding a cell containing the atoms and 11 Torr of N$_{2}$ as the buffer gas. The optical pumping is accomplished by using a commercial laser diode frequency-locked on the linear absorption line of an external rubidium cell. The maser output power is maximized when the laser spectrum is spread by modulating its frequency through the variation of its injection current. The maser output power is also presented for various modulation waveforms and frequencies. We find that the spurious sidebands induced by the modulation can be minimized. Finally, the linear dependence between the laser and maser frequencies is shown. We find that the relative maser frequency pulling from the laser is about $4.6 \times 10^{-3}$.

arXiv:physics/0508227•Aug 31, 2005•0 citations

The Pulsed Ruby Maser as a Light Amplifier

Paul Kisliuk, W. S. Boyle

A pulsed ruby maser has been operated as a light amplifier using a ruby maser oscillator as a source. A net gain of a factor of two was observed. The dependence of the gain on temperature and pumping power agrees with theory within experimental limits.

Proceedings of the IRE•Nov 1, 1961•30 citations

Principles of Operation of the Rubidium Vapor Magnetometer

Arnold L. Bloom

This paper discusses some of the basic problems involved in designing and using a magnetometer employing optical pumping. Particular attention is given to magnetometers of the self-oscillating type; i.e., those that are analogous to masers in that the resonant properties of the spin system itself are used to sustain continuous oscillation at the resonant frequency. Among the topics treated are amplitude variations with orientation, sensitivity, behavior in extremely weak magnetic fields, and response to rapid field changes.

Applied Optics•Jan 1, 1962•282 citations

Rubidium-beam microwave clock pumped by distributed feedback diode lasers

Chang Liu, Sheng Zhou, Yanhui Wang +1 more

A rubidium-beam microwave clock, optically pumped by a distributed feedback diode laser, is experimentally investigated. The clock is composed of a physical package, optical systems, and electric servo loops. The physical package realizes the microwave interrogation of a rubidium-atomic beam. The optical systems, equipped with two 780-nm distributed feedback laser diodes, yield light for pumping and detecting. The servo loops control the frequency of a local oscillator with respect to the microwave spectrum. With the experimental systems, the microwave spectrum, which has an amplitude of 4 nA and a line width of 700 Hz, is obtained. Preliminary tests show that the clock short-term frequency stability is 7 × 10 −11 at 1 s, and 3 × 10 −12 at 1000 s. These experimental results demonstrate the feasibility of the scheme for a manufactured clock.

Chinese Physics B•Oct 1, 2017•5 citations

Study of frequency-modulation effects in a laser-pumped rubidium maser

Pierre Tremblay, Jean Beaubien, A. Michaud +1 more

The laser-pumped 87Rb maser showed many new experimental features.1 A precise understanding of the maser behavior is obtained by considering a simple three-level atom, located inside a microwave cavity, interacting with a frequency-modulated laser. This simple model is based on the density operator formalism within a semi-classical approach. We show that moderately rapid modulation of the laser frequency results in sustained large hyperfine coherence, thus high gain, due to reduced light broadening, even for a high intensity pump. This is optimally achieved with a given modulation depth which is proportional to the light intensity. This last result has also been obtained when considering only the maximization of the population inversion.2 On the other hand the modulation greatly decreases the dependence of the maser frequency upon the laser frequency (through the variation of the light shift), therefore reducing the requirements for the mid- and the long-term frequency stability of the pumping laser. Finally the maser frequency suffers a small modulation, relatively insensitive to the modulation depth, which becomes negligible for sufficiently high modulation frequencies.

Annual Meeting Optical Society of America•Jan 1, 1993•0 citations

Microwave and optical masers

J. E. Geusic, H. E. D. Scovil

The subject of masers is introduced by giving an historical account of events which led to the amplification of microwave radiation by an inverted population in a system of weakly interacting ammonia molecules. The introduction also outlines the development of masers up to the present. Sections 2 and 3 are concerned with maser fundamentals. Methods for obtaining inverted populations are discussed in § 2. Section 3 is devoted to the theory of maser gain and noise. This is followed by a discussion of microwave solid state masers. Microwave maser materials and the development of unidirectional travelling wave maser amplifiers are emphasized. Optical masers are treated in § 5. In this section the theory of optical amplifiers and oscillators is outlined. Also included in the theoretical discussion is a rather lengthy consideration of pump power requirements in optically pumped masers. This is followed by a survey of solid state, semiconductor and gaseous optical masers. The review ends with some comments on the extension of masers to new wavelength regions.

Reports on Progress in Physics•Jan 1, 1964•11 citations
Continuous self-sustained oscillations at 6834 Mc/sec were obtained with an optically pumped rubidium maser amplifier in a regenerative feedback loop. Some additional gain introduced by a parametric amplifier was required. The use of pulsed light for optical pumping permits the study of the oscillation build-up under various experimental conditions.
We report the operation of a 87^{87}87Rb maser in the self-oscillating mode, using a laser diode as the optical pumping source. The maser uses a TE021_{021}021​ cavity surrounding a cell containing the atoms and 11 Torr of N2_{2}2​ as the buffer gas. The optical pumping is accomplished by using a commercial laser diode frequency-locked on the linear absorption line of an external rubidium cell. The maser output power is maximized when the laser spectrum is spread by modulating its frequency through the variation of its injection current. The maser output power is also presented for various modulation waveforms and frequencies. We find that the spurious sidebands induced by the modulation can be minimized. Finally, the linear dependence between the laser and maser frequencies is shown. We find that the relative maser frequency pulling from the laser is about 4.6×10−34.6 \times 10^{-3}4.6×10−3.
This paper discusses some of the basic problems involved in designing and using a magnetometer employing optical pumping. Particular attention is given to magnetometers of the self-oscillating type; i.e., those that are analogous to masers in that the resonant properties of the spin system itself are used to sustain continuous oscillation at the resonant frequency. Among the topics treated are amplitude variations with orientation, sensitivity, behavior in extremely weak magnetic fields, and response to rapid field changes.
A rubidium-beam microwave clock, optically pumped by a distributed feedback diode laser, is experimentally investigated. The clock is composed of a physical package, optical systems, and electric servo loops. The physical package realizes the microwave interrogation of a rubidium-atomic beam. The optical systems, equipped with two 780-nm distributed feedback laser diodes, yield light for pumping and detecting. The servo loops control the frequency of a local oscillator with respect to the microwave spectrum. With the experimental systems, the microwave spectrum, which has an amplitude of 4 nA and a line width of 700 Hz, is obtained. Preliminary tests show that the clock short-term frequency stability is 7 × 10 −11 at 1 s, and 3 × 10 −12 at 1000 s. These experimental results demonstrate the feasibility of the scheme for a manufactured clock.
The laser-pumped 87Rb maser showed many new experimental features.1 A precise understanding of the maser behavior is obtained by considering a simple three-level atom, located inside a microwave cavity, interacting with a frequency-modulated laser. This simple model is based on the density operator formalism within a semi-classical approach. We show that moderately rapid modulation of the laser frequency results in sustained large hyperfine coherence, thus high gain, due to reduced light broadening, even for a high intensity pump. This is optimally achieved with a given modulation depth which is proportional to the light intensity. This last result has also been obtained when considering only the maximization of the population inversion.2 On the other hand the modulation greatly decreases the dependence of the maser frequency upon the laser frequency (through the variation of the light shift), therefore reducing the requirements for the mid- and the long-term frequency stability of the pumping laser. Finally the maser frequency suffers a small modulation, relatively insensitive to the modulation depth, which becomes negligible for sufficiently high modulation frequencies.
The subject of masers is introduced by giving an historical account of events which led to the amplification of microwave radiation by an inverted population in a system of weakly interacting ammonia molecules. The introduction also outlines the development of masers up to the present. Sections 2 and 3 are concerned with maser fundamentals. Methods for obtaining inverted populations are discussed in § 2. Section 3 is devoted to the theory of maser gain and noise. This is followed by a discussion of microwave solid state masers. Microwave maser materials and the development of unidirectional travelling wave maser amplifiers are emphasized. Optical masers are treated in § 5. In this section the theory of optical amplifiers and oscillators is outlined. Also included in the theoretical discussion is a rather lengthy consideration of pump power requirements in optically pumped masers. This is followed by a survey of solid state, semiconductor and gaseous optical masers. The review ends with some comments on the extension of masers to new wavelength regions.