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

An ultrahigh-Q isotropically sensitive optical filter employing atomic resonance transitions

John B. Marling, Joseph Nilsen, Lawrence C. West, Lowell T. Wood

Published Feb 1, 1979• 51 citations
Publisher

Abstract

A new resonance principle in optical filters has been utilized to simultaneously permit realization of wide field-of-view (∼2π sr) and very narrow acceptance bandwidths, approaching 0.01 Å. A light signal is transmitted through an outer bandpass filter into a resonantly absorbing atomic vapor, resulting in a fluorescence signal at a different wavelength which is transmitted through an inner bandpass filter. The outer and inner bandpass filters have no common transmission band, resulting in complete blockage of all optical signals (background noise) that are not resonantly shifted in wavelength by the intervening atomic vapor. This ’’resonance filter’’ principle is experimentally verified, and system parameters are discussed for filters utilizing potassium, rubidium, or cesium vapor at nine wavelengths between 420 and 532 nm.

DOI
10.1063/1.326074

Related papers

Isotropically sensitive optical filter employing atomic resonance transitions

John B Marling

An ultra-high Q isotropically sensitive optical filter or optical detector employing atomic resonance transitions. More specifically, atomic resonance transitions utilized in conjunction with two optical bandpass filters provide an optical detector having a wide field of view (.about.2.pi. steradians) and very narrow acceptance bandwidth approaching 0.01 A. A light signal to be detected is transmitted through an outer bandpass filter into a resonantly absorbing atomic vapor, the excited atomic vapor then providing a fluorescence signal at a different wavelength which is transmitted through an inner bandpass filter. The outer and inner bandpass filters have no common transmission band, thereby resulting in complete blockage of all optical signals that are not resonantly shifted in wavelength by the intervening atomic vapor. Two embodiments are disclosed, one in which the light signal raises atoms contained in the atomic vapor from the ground state to an excited state from which fluorescence occurs, and the other in which a pump laser is used to raise the atoms in the ground state to a first excited state from which the light signal then is resonantly absorbed, thereby raising the atoms to a second excited state from which fluorescence occurs. A specific application is described in which an optical detector according to the present invention can be used as an underwater detector for light from an optical transmitter which could be located in an orbiting satellite.

•Jan 23, 2023•0 citations

Laser-pumped atomic vapor optical filters

T. M. Shay, Yun Chur Chung

Narrow-bandwidth optical sources are readily available. However, tunable narrow-bandwidth, wide field-of-view optical filters are not available. The laser-pumped atomic vapor optical filters presented here are in principle tunable narrow-bandwidth, wide field-of-view optical filters. These filters can simultaneously provide high resolution (0.001 nm), wide field-of-view (±90°), high quantum efficiency, and electrically tunable optical filtering. These devices are ideally suited for extracting weak narrow-bandwidth signals buried in strong nonresonant optical background radiation. Potential applications of these fitters include laser communications, laser radar, detection of Raman radiation, and atomic spectroscopy.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics•Jan 1, 1986•2 citations

Fast response time atomic filter at 423 nm

Y. C. Chan, Jerry A. Gelbwachs

Atomic resonance filters are optical bandpass filters that employ sharp atomic transitions to perform ultra-narrow-band (0.001 nm) filtering of light.1 Further, the bandwidth is independent of aperture size and field-of-view, These devices are designed to exclude sunlight in laser receivers. Applications include laser radar, lasercom, remote sensing, and underwater communications.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics•May 2, 1993•0 citations

How to build an optical filter with an atomic vapor cell

Denis Uhland, Helena Dillmann, Yijun Wang +1 more

Abstract The nature of atomic vapors, their natural alignment with interatomic transitions, and their ease of use make them highly suited for spectrally narrow-banded optical filters. Atomic filters come in two flavors: a filter based on the absorption of light by the Doppler broadened atomic vapor, i.e. a notch filter, and a bandpass filter based on the transmission of resonant light caused by the Faraday effect. The notch filter uses the absorption of resonant photons to filter out a small spectral band around the atomic transition. The off-resonant part of the spectrum is fully transmitted. Atomic vapors based on the Faraday effect allow for suppression of the detuned spectral fraction. Transmission of light originates from the magnetically induced rotation of linear polarized light close to an atomic resonance. This filter constellation allows selective acceptance of specific light frequencies. In this manuscript, we discuss these two types of filters and elucidate the specialties of atomic line filters. We also present a practical guide on building such filter setups from scratch and discuss an approach to achieve an almost perfect atomic spectrum backed by theoretical calculations.

New Journal of Physics•Nov 24, 2023•14 citations

How to Build an Optical Filter with an Atomic Vapor Cell

Denis Uhland, Dillmann, Helena, Yijun Wang +1 more

The nature of atomic vapors, their natural alignment with interatomic transitions, and their ease of use make them highly suited for spectrally narrow-banded optical filters. Atomic filters come in two flavors: a filter based on the absorption of light by the Doppler broadened atomic vapor, i.e. a notch filter, and a bandpass filter based on the transmission of resonant light caused by the Faraday effect. The notch filter uses the absorption of resonant photons to filter out a small spectral band around the atomic transition. The off-resonant part of the spectrum is fully transmitted. Atomic vapors based on the Faraday effect allow for suppression of the detuned spectral fraction. Transmission of light originates from the magnetically induced rotation of linear polarized light close to an atomic resonance. This filter constellation allows selective acceptance of specific light frequencies. In this manuscript, we discuss these two types of filters and elucidate the specialties of atomic line filters. We also present a practical guide on building such filter setups from scratch and discuss an approach to achieve an almost perfect atomic spectrum backed by theoretical calculations.

arXiv:2305.00570•Jan 1, 2023•0 citations

Fluorescence filters based on alkali-metal atomic vapors

V. N. Kulyasov, В. Б. Шилов, Viktor A. Yakovlev

We study the characteristics of narrow-band atomic fluorescence filters intended for isolation of usable signals from broadband background radiation. These filters use alkali-metal atomic vapors as the filter medium, and we compare the parameters of various filters. Filters using allowed transitions in rubidium and cesium were found to offer the best designs.

Journal of Optical Technology•Jun 1, 2016•2 citations
A new resonance principle in optical filters has been utilized to simultaneously permit realization of wide field-of-view (∼2π sr) and very narrow acceptance bandwidths, approaching 0.01 Å. A light signal is transmitted through an outer bandpass filter into a resonantly absorbing atomic vapor, resulting in a fluorescence signal at a different wavelength which is transmitted through an inner bandpass filter. The outer and inner bandpass filters have no common transmission band, resulting in complete blockage of all optical signals (background noise) that are not resonantly shifted in wavelength by the intervening atomic vapor. This ’’resonance filter’’ principle is experimentally verified, and system parameters are discussed for filters utilizing potassium, rubidium, or cesium vapor at nine wavelengths between 420 and 532 nm.
An ultra-high Q isotropically sensitive optical filter or optical detector employing atomic resonance transitions. More specifically, atomic resonance transitions utilized in conjunction with two optical bandpass filters provide an optical detector having a wide field of view (.about.2.pi. steradians) and very narrow acceptance bandwidth approaching 0.01 A. A light signal to be detected is transmitted through an outer bandpass filter into a resonantly absorbing atomic vapor, the excited atomic vapor then providing a fluorescence signal at a different wavelength which is transmitted through an inner bandpass filter. The outer and inner bandpass filters have no common transmission band, thereby resulting in complete blockage of all optical signals that are not resonantly shifted in wavelength by the intervening atomic vapor. Two embodiments are disclosed, one in which the light signal raises atoms contained in the atomic vapor from the ground state to an excited state from which fluorescence occurs, and the other in which a pump laser is used to raise the atoms in the ground state to a first excited state from which the light signal then is resonantly absorbed, thereby raising the atoms to a second excited state from which fluorescence occurs. A specific application is described in which an optical detector according to the present invention can be used as an underwater detector for light from an optical transmitter which could be located in an orbiting satellite.
Narrow-bandwidth optical sources are readily available. However, tunable narrow-bandwidth, wide field-of-view optical filters are not available. The laser-pumped atomic vapor optical filters presented here are in principle tunable narrow-bandwidth, wide field-of-view optical filters. These filters can simultaneously provide high resolution (0.001 nm), wide field-of-view (±90°), high quantum efficiency, and electrically tunable optical filtering. These devices are ideally suited for extracting weak narrow-bandwidth signals buried in strong nonresonant optical background radiation. Potential applications of these fitters include laser communications, laser radar, detection of Raman radiation, and atomic spectroscopy.
Abstract The nature of atomic vapors, their natural alignment with interatomic transitions, and their ease of use make them highly suited for spectrally narrow-banded optical filters. Atomic filters come in two flavors: a filter based on the absorption of light by the Doppler broadened atomic vapor, i.e. a notch filter, and a bandpass filter based on the transmission of resonant light caused by the Faraday effect. The notch filter uses the absorption of resonant photons to filter out a small spectral band around the atomic transition. The off-resonant part of the spectrum is fully transmitted. Atomic vapors based on the Faraday effect allow for suppression of the detuned spectral fraction. Transmission of light originates from the magnetically induced rotation of linear polarized light close to an atomic resonance. This filter constellation allows selective acceptance of specific light frequencies. In this manuscript, we discuss these two types of filters and elucidate the specialties of atomic line filters. We also present a practical guide on building such filter setups from scratch and discuss an approach to achieve an almost perfect atomic spectrum backed by theoretical calculations.
The nature of atomic vapors, their natural alignment with interatomic transitions, and their ease of use make them highly suited for spectrally narrow-banded optical filters. Atomic filters come in two flavors: a filter based on the absorption of light by the Doppler broadened atomic vapor, i.e. a notch filter, and a bandpass filter based on the transmission of resonant light caused by the Faraday effect. The notch filter uses the absorption of resonant photons to filter out a small spectral band around the atomic transition. The off-resonant part of the spectrum is fully transmitted. Atomic vapors based on the Faraday effect allow for suppression of the detuned spectral fraction. Transmission of light originates from the magnetically induced rotation of linear polarized light close to an atomic resonance. This filter constellation allows selective acceptance of specific light frequencies. In this manuscript, we discuss these two types of filters and elucidate the specialties of atomic line filters. We also present a practical guide on building such filter setups from scratch and discuss an approach to achieve an almost perfect atomic spectrum backed by theoretical calculations.