We report a quasicontinuous wave (CW) linearly polarized rubidium vapor laser. The pumping source consists of five laser diode bars and its linewidth is reduced from the raw 1.8 to 0.2 nm by a bulk volume Bragg grating. Instead of adopting the “quasi-waveguide structure” gain cell, the pumping light of the rubidium vapor laser propagates freely in the vapor cell. The pumping light with polarization perpendicular to one of the rubidium laser is coupled into the resonator cavity by the polarized beam splitter. This laser configuration is suitable for a convection-cooling diode-pumped alkali vapor laser.We report a quasicontinuous wave (CW) linearly polarized rubidium vapor laser. The pumping source consists of five laser diode bars and its linewidth is reduced from the raw 1.8 to 0.2 nm by a bulk volume Bragg grating. Instead of adopting the “quasi-waveguide structure” gain cell, the pumping light of the rubidium vapor laser propagates freely in the vapor cell. The pumping light with polarization perpendicular to one of the rubidium laser is coupled into the resonator cavity by the polarized beam splitter. This laser configuration is suitable for a convection-cooling diode-pumped alkali vapor laser.

Optical EngineeringNov 21, 20145 citations

Auto-locking waveguide amplifier system for lidar and magnetometric applications

Alexander Pouliot, Hermina C. Beica, Adam Carew +3 more

We describe a compact waveguide amplifier system that is suitable for optically pumping rubidium magnetometers. The system consists of an auto-locking vacuum-sealed external cavity diode laser, a semiconductor tapered amplifier and a pulsing unit based on an acousto-optic modulator. The diode laser utilises optical feedback from an interference filter to narrow the linewidth of an inexpensive laser diode to ~500 kHz. This output is scannable over an 8 GHz range (at 780 nm) and can be locked without human intervention to any spectral marker in an expandable library of reference spectra, using the autolocking controller. The tapered amplifier amplifies the output from 50 mW up to 2 W with negligible distortions in the spectral quality. The system can operate at visible and near infrared wavelengths with MHz repetition rates. We demonstrate optical pumping of rubidium vapour with this system for magnetometric applications. The magnetometer detects the differential absorption of two orthogonally polarized components of a linearly polarized probe laser following optical pumping by a circularly polarized pump laser. The differential absorption signal is studied for a range of pulse lengths, pulse amplitudes and DC magnetic fields. Our results suggest that this laser system is suitable for optically pumping spin-exchange free magnetometers.We describe a compact waveguide amplifier system that is suitable for optically pumping rubidium magnetometers. The system consists of an auto-locking vacuum-sealed external cavity diode laser, a semiconductor tapered amplifier and a pulsing unit based on an acousto-optic modulator. The diode laser utilises optical feedback from an interference filter to narrow the linewidth of an inexpensive laser diode to ~500 kHz. This output is scannable over an 8 GHz range (at 780 nm) and can be locked without human intervention to any spectral marker in an expandable library of reference spectra, using the autolocking controller. The tapered amplifier amplifies the output from 50 mW up to 2 W with negligible distortions in the spectral quality. The system can operate at visible and near infrared wavelengths with MHz repetition rates. We demonstrate optical pumping of rubidium vapour with this system for magnetometric applications. The magnetometer detects the differential absorption of two orthogonally polarized components of a linearly polarized probe laser following optical pumping by a circularly polarized pump laser. The differential absorption signal is studied for a range of pulse lengths, pulse amplitudes and DC magnetic fields. Our results suggest that this laser system is suitable for optically pumping spin-exchange free magnetometers.

arXiv:1805.07387High-Power Diode Laser TechnologyFeb 19, 201811 citations

A pulsed, optically-pumped rubidium laser at high pump intensity

Clifford V. Sulham, Glen P. Perram, Michael P. Wilkinson +1 more

Optics CommunicationsJun 26, 201036 citations

Optical pumping of Rb vapor using high-power Ga1−x Alx As diode laser arrays

William J. Cummings, O. Häusser, W. Lorenzon +2 more

The use of high-power ${\mathrm{Ga}}_{1\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{x}}$ ${\mathrm{Al}}_{\mathit{x}}$ As diode laser arrays for optical pumping of Rb vapor has been examined both theoretically and experimentally. Our studies show that large atomic polarizations can be obtained using the broad spectral output of a diode laser array if the Rb resonance line is collisionally broadened by several atmospheres of a buffer gas. The objective was to study the effectiveness of diode laser arrays as light sources for optically pumped spin-exchange polarized $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ targets. The average Rb polarization was deduced at three different Rb vapor pressures using the polarization induced in the $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ buffer gas. The largest $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ polarization observed was 53% using a 20-W diode array with 1.9-nm full width at half maximum spectral width in 10.5 amagat of $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ . This result compares favorably with other light sources for this target. The measured average Rb polarizations are compared to theoretical calculations.The use of high-power ${\mathrm{Ga}}_{1\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{x}}$${\mathrm{Al}}_{\mathit{x}}$As diode laser arrays for optical pumping of Rb vapor has been examined both theoretically and experimentally. Our studies show that large atomic polarizations can be obtained using the broad spectral output of a diode laser array if the Rb resonance line is collisionally broadened by several atmospheres of a buffer gas. The objective was to study the effectiveness of diode laser arrays as light sources for optically pumped spin-exchange polarized $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ targets. The average Rb polarization was deduced at three different Rb vapor pressures using the polarization induced in the $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ buffer gas. The largest $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ polarization observed was 53% using a 20-W diode array with 1.9-nm full width at half maximum spectral width in 10.5 amagat of $^{3}\mathrm{He}$. This result compares favorably with other light sources for this target. The measured average Rb polarizations are compared to theoretical calculations.

Physical Review AJun 1, 199540 citations

The use of high-power ${\mathrm{Ga}}_{1\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{x}}$

{\mathrm{Al}}_{\mathit{x}}

As diode laser arrays for optical pumping of Rb vapor has been examined both theoretically and experimentally. Our studies show that large atomic polarizations can be obtained using the broad spectral output of a diode laser array if the Rb resonance line is collisionally broadened by several atmospheres of a buffer gas. The objective was to study the effectiveness of diode laser arrays as light sources for optically pumped spin-exchange polarized

^{3}\mathrm{He}

targets. The average Rb polarization was deduced at three different Rb vapor pressures using the polarization induced in the

^{3}\mathrm{He}

buffer gas. The largest

^{3}\mathrm{He}

polarization observed was 53% using a 20-W diode array with 1.9-nm full width at half maximum spectral width in 10.5 amagat of

^{3}\mathrm{He}

. This result compares favorably with other light sources for this target. The measured average Rb polarizations are compared to theoretical calculations.