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Laser Physics Letters

High-contrast dark resonance in σ+ - σ- optical field

Sergei V Kargapol'tsev, John E. Kitching, Leo W. Hollberg, A. V. Taǐchenachev, Vladimir L Velichansky, Valeriy I. Yudin

Published Sep 16, 2004• 73 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The amplitude of Λ resonance in alkali atoms is limited by perturbing cycling transitions in the case of D2 line or by existence of additional trapping states in the case of D1 line. We propose to eliminate these extra trapping states by using two counter-propagating bichromatic fields of orthogonal circular polarizations. The experiment is in accordance with the theoretical proposal. The result refers to small-size cells and is important for applications in miniaturized atomic clocks.

DOI
10.1002/lapl.200410107

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The amplitude of Λ resonance in alkali atoms is limited by perturbing cycling transitions in the case of D2 line or by existence of additional trapping states in the case of D1 line. We propose to eliminate these extra trapping states by using two counter-propagating bichromatic fields of orthogonal circular polarizations. The experiment is in accordance with the theoretical proposal. The result refers to small-size cells and is important for applications in miniaturized atomic clocks.
State-of-the-art miniature atomic clocks (MACs) are based on the phenomenon of coherent population trapping (CPT) in alkali-metal atomic vapors (Rb\mathrm{Rb}Rb or Cs\mathrm{Cs}Cs). Improving the stability of the clock frequency is a crucial issue; resolving it would result in significant progress in numerous applications. Here, we examine the configuration of the light field, which is composed of two bichromatic beams with opposing handedness of circular polarization. The beams are in resonance with optical transitions in the Cs\mathrm{Cs}Cs D1{D}_{1}D1​ line ($\ensuremath{\lambda}\ensuremath{\approx}895$ nm). This configuration has previously been shown to produce observed CPT resonances with higher contrast than a standard single-beam scheme; however, our scheme implements pump and probe beams that operate independently, with the transmission of the probe beam being monitored separately. This approach differs from previous studies. The experiments are carried out using a cubic $5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}5\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{mm}}^{3}$ vapor cell filled with buffer gas. It is shown that the line shape of the resonance acquires an asymmetry that can be efficiently controlled by a microwave (Raman) phase between the beams. As a proof of concept, we study the way in which this asymmetry can help to mitigate the influence of the ac Stark (light) shift on the long-term frequency stability of CPT clocks based on vapor microcells ($V\ensuremath{\ll}1\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{cm}}^{3}$). Experimental verification is performed with both a distributed-Bragg-reflector laser and a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser. The latter is of particular importance for the development of MACs. The experimental results are in qualitative agreement with the analytical theory based on a double-$\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}$ scheme of atomic energy levels.
A cold-atom coherent population trapping clock based on σ+−σ− interrogation realized by counter-propagating optical fields of opposite circular polarization is presented. The simultaneous use of σ+ and σ− polarizations prevents atoms from being trapped in the end magnetic sublevels, significantly enhancing the contrast over interrogation with a single circular polarization. Because the system is based on cold atoms and there is very little relaxation, nearly complete dark states are created, and coherent population trapping resonances with maximum contrast are observed. A frequency stability of 1.3×10−11/√τ is achieved, which averages down to 2×10−13 after a 40 000 s integration period.
Abstract We review three laser spectroscopy schemes developed recently for observation of high-contrast enhanced-absorption nonlinear resonances in small alkali-vapor cells. In our experiments, optical transitions within the cesium D1 line are involved and a probe beam transmission is analyzed. The first spectroscopy method is based on the configuration with two-frequency counter propagating beams, which are linearly polarized in orthogonal directions. This configuration provides observation of high-contrast natural-linewidth resonances superimposed on broad Doppler profiles when the laser frequency is scanned. These resonances have good prospects for developing a miniature optical frequency reference. The second scheme involves two-frequency counter propagating beams with equal circular polarizations and provides observation of subnatural-linewidth resonances when the Raman frequency detuning is scanned. We use these resonances for stabilizing the microwave frequency of a local oscillator (≈ 4.6 GHz). Frequency stability of around 6 × l0-12 is achieved at 1-s averaging using a 5-mm length cell. This result makes the technique attractive for developing a miniature frequency standard in thr microwave range. The third configuration exploits single-frequency counter-propagating beams with linear orthogonal polarizations. The ultrahigh-contrast subnatural-linewidth resonances can be observed when the longitudinal magnetic field is scanned around zero. The possible application is discussed of these resonances in vector atomic magnetometry.