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Journal of Applied Physics

Fundamental stability limits for the diode-laser-pumped rubidium atomic frequency standard

James C. Camparo, R. P. Frueholz

Published May 15, 1986• 64 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Recently, there has been considerable interest in the use of single-mode diode lasers in atomic frequency standards. In the present paper theoretical calculations are performed in order to quantify the expected performance improvement upon incorporation of diode lasers in rubidium gas cell atomic frequency standards. We assume that clock signal shot noise, the diode laser’s quantum noise, and diode laser frequency locking noise all contribute to the atomic frequency standard’s stability. Our results indicate that white-noise Allan variances of ∼6×10−15/(τ)1/2 are possible if enhanced cavity Q diode lasers are employed, whereas for presently available commercial diode lasers we predict white-noise Allan variances of ∼3×10−14/(τ)1/2. These variances represent a 2–3 orders of magnitude improvement in frequency stability over that currently obtained with rubidium gas cell atomic clocks.

DOI
10.1063/1.336847

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Characterization of Frequency-Doubled 1.5-μ\muμ m Lasers for High-Performance Rb Clocks
We report on the characterization of two fiber-coupled 1.5-μm diode lasers, frequency-doubled and stabilized to Rubidium (Rb) atomic resonances at 780 nm. Such laser systems are of interest in view of their implementation in Rb vapor-cell atomic clocks, as an alternative to lasers emitting directly at 780 nm. The spectral properties and the instabilities of the frequency-doubled lasers are evaluated against a state-of-the-art compact Rb-stabilized laser system based on a distributed-feedback laser diode emitting at 780 nm. All three lasers are frequency stabilized using essentially identical Doppler-free spectroscopy schemes. The long-term optical power fluctuations at 780 nm are measured, simultaneously with the frequency instability measurements done by three beat notes established between the three lasers. One of the frequency-doubled laser systems shows at 780 nm excellent spectral properties. Its relative intensity noise-12Hz-1is one order of magnitude lower than the reference 780-nm laser, and the frequency noise6Hz2/Hz is limited by the laser current source. Its optical frequency instability is-12at τ = 1 s, limited by the reference laser, and better than 1 × 10-11at all timescales up to one day. We also evaluate the impact of the laser spectral properties and instabilities on the Rb atomic clock performance, in particular taking into account the light-shift effect. Optical power instabilities on long-term timescales, largely originating from the frequency-doubling stage, are identified as a limitation in view of high-performance Rb atomic clocks.