© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

Terms Privacy Legal Notice

Chinese Physics B

Laser frequency locking based on the normal and abnormal saturated absorption spectroscopy of 87 Rb

Jian-Hong Wan, Chang Liu, Yanhui Wang

Published Apr 1, 2016• 4 citations

Abstract

We present a practical method to avoid the mis-locking phenomenon in the saturated-absorption-spectrum laser-frequency-locking system and set up a simple theoretical model to explain the abnormal saturated absorption spectrum. The method uses the normal and abnormal saturated absorption spectra of the same transition 5 2 S 1/2 , F = 2–5 2 P 3/2 , F ' = 3 saturated absorption of the 87 Rb D 2 resonance line. After subtracting these two signals with the help of electronics, we can obtain a spectrum with a single peak to lock the laser. In our experiment, we use the normal and inverse signals of the transitions 5 2 S 1/2 , F = 2–5 2 P 3/2 , F ' = 3 saturated absorption of the 87 Rb D 2 resonance line to lock a 780-nm distributed feedback (DFB) diode laser. This method improves the long-term locking performance and is suitable for other kinds of diode lasers.

DOI: 10.1088/1674-1056/25/4/044204

Related papers

Solitary resonance observed in the saturated absorption spectrum of the 87 Rb D 2 line

Normand Cyr, M. Têtu

In recent years, much work has been done in experimental studies to frequency lock laser diodes to atomic or molecular resonances.1 By such techniques it is possible to improve greatly the laser frequency stability and to define precisely its nominal value. For laser sources operating in the 0.8-μm range, rubidium is the preferred specie and each isotope offers two resonance lines, one at 780 nm (D2 line) and one at 795 nm (D1 line). Both linear and saturated absorption have been used, and laser frequency charcteristics are published.2,3

•Apr 24, 1989•1 citation

Frequency Stabilization of Diode Laser Using Dichroic-Atomic-Vapor Laser Lock Signals and Thin Rb Vapor Cell

Sayaka Imanishi, U. Tanaka, Shinji Urabe

We report the frequency stabilization of a diode laser by applying the dichroic-atomic-vapor laser lock (DAVLL) method to a thin Rb vapor cell. A 1-mm-long Rb vapor cell is used to obtain a sub-Doppler spectrum that is required for frequency locking, which is easier than in the case of using a saturated absorption spectrometer. A 794-nm diode laser is tuned to the Rb D 1 line, and sub-Doppler signals are observed by introducing a pumping beam and a probe beam in a perpendicular direction. We obtain error signals by subtracting the signals of σ+ polarized beams from that of σ- polarized beams in the presence of a magnetic field and stabilized the 794 nm diode laser frequency without modulating laser parameters. The stability of the 794-nm diode laser is evaluated using other independently stabilized diode laser.

Japanese Journal of Applied Physics•Sep 1, 2005•13 citations

Toward the realization of a wavelength standard at 780 nm based on a laser diode frequency-locked to rubidium vapor

M. Têtu, Normand Cyr, Bernard Villeneuve +3 more

The authors present the result of a study on the realization of an optical frequency standard based on a laser diode frequency-locked to Doppler resonance limited and sub-Doppler resonances of the /sup 87/Rb D/sub 2/-line (5S/sub 1/2/ from or to 5P/sub 3/2/, 780.027 nm). The characteristics of the signals obtained from the resonant phase-conjugate reflection, the nonlinear magnetic optical activity, and the saturated absorption are compared to the characteristics of the linear absorption signal. Improvement of laser diode frequency stability is discussed for these techniques. The experimental results indicate that the more complicated the system, the better defined is the reference line.>

Conference on Precision Electromagnetic Measurements•Dec 4, 2002•0 citations

Toward the realization of a wavelength standard at 780 nm based on a laser diode frequency locked to rubidium vapor

M. Têtu, Normand Cyr, Bernard Villeneuve +3 more

The authors present the result of a study on the realization of an optical frequency standard based on a laser diode frequency-locked to Doppler resonance limited and sub-Doppler resonances of the /sup 87/Rb D/sub 2/-line (5S/sub 1/2/ from or to 5P/sub 3/2/, 780.027 nm). The characteristics of the signals obtained from the resonant phase-conjugate reflection, the nonlinear magnetic optical activity, and the saturated absorption are compared to the characteristics of the linear absorption signal. Improvement of laser diode frequency stability is discussed for these techniques. The experimental results indicate that the more complicated the system, the better defined is the reference line. >

IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement•Apr 1, 1991•24 citations

Frequency stabilization of a diode laser using the Zeeman shift of saturated absorption spectra of the /sup 87/Rb atom

Ho Seong Lee, Sang Eon Park, Sung Hoon Yang

Saturated absorption spectra of the /sup 87/Rb atom under the magnetic field of several tens of gauss were observed with a diode laser oscillating at 780 nm, and Zeeman splittings of the 5/sup 2/P/sub 3/2/ excited state of the atom were numerically calculated to obtain the spectra theoretically. Both of the spectra agreed well, and a Zeeman-shifted absorption line was used for the frequency stabilization of the diode laser.>

Conference on Precision Electromagnetic Measurements•Dec 17, 2002•0 citations

DFB laser diode pumped Rubidium atomic frequency standard

Jiayao Huang, Y. Gu, X. H. Qi +5 more

We present our recently experimental results on a DFB laser diode pumped Rubidium atomic frequency standard. Our experiment was based on a homemade lamp-pumped Rubidium frequency standard with the discharge lamp assembly removed. In the experiment, we first locked a DFB laser diode to the87Rb cycling transition (5S1/2, F=2→5P3/2, F=3) by means of saturation absorption locking technique. After that, we optimized the parameters carefully related to the clock performance, such as temperature of the physical package, amplitude of the modulation signal for the laser locking. The preliminary short-term stability of our clock is measured 5.25×10−12τ−1/2(1s<τ<100s).

Joint Conference of the European Frequency and Time Forum and IEEE International Frequency Control Symposium (EFTF/IFCS)•May 1, 2011•0 citations

We present a practical method to avoid the mis-locking phenomenon in the saturated-absorption-spectrum laser-frequency-locking system and set up a simple theoretical model to explain the abnormal saturated absorption spectrum. The method uses the normal and abnormal saturated absorption spectra of the same transition 5 2 S 1/2 , F = 2–5 2 P 3/2 , F ' = 3 saturated absorption of the 87 Rb D 2 resonance line. After subtracting these two signals with the help of electronics, we can obtain a spectrum with a single peak to lock the laser. In our experiment, we use the normal and inverse signals of the transitions 5 2 S 1/2 , F = 2–5 2 P 3/2 , F ' = 3 saturated absorption of the 87 Rb D 2 resonance line to lock a 780-nm distributed feedback (DFB) diode laser. This method improves the long-term locking performance and is suitable for other kinds of diode lasers.

In recent years, much work has been done in experimental studies to frequency lock laser diodes to atomic or molecular resonances.1 By such techniques it is possible to improve greatly the laser frequency stability and to define precisely its nominal value. For laser sources operating in the 0.8-μm range, rubidium is the preferred specie and each isotope offers two resonance lines, one at 780 nm (D2 line) and one at 795 nm (D1 line). Both linear and saturated absorption have been used, and laser frequency charcteristics are published.2,3

We report the frequency stabilization of a diode laser by applying the dichroic-atomic-vapor laser lock (DAVLL) method to a thin Rb vapor cell. A 1-mm-long Rb vapor cell is used to obtain a sub-Doppler spectrum that is required for frequency locking, which is easier than in the case of using a saturated absorption spectrometer. A 794-nm diode laser is tuned to the Rb D 1 line, and sub-Doppler signals are observed by introducing a pumping beam and a probe beam in a perpendicular direction. We obtain error signals by subtracting the signals of σ+ polarized beams from that of σ- polarized beams in the presence of a magnetic field and stabilized the 794 nm diode laser frequency without modulating laser parameters. The stability of the 794-nm diode laser is evaluated using other independently stabilized diode laser.

The authors present the result of a study on the realization of an optical frequency standard based on a laser diode frequency-locked to Doppler resonance limited and sub-Doppler resonances of the /sup 87/Rb D/sub 2/-line (5S/sub 1/2/ from or to 5P/sub 3/2/, 780.027 nm). The characteristics of the signals obtained from the resonant phase-conjugate reflection, the nonlinear magnetic optical activity, and the saturated absorption are compared to the characteristics of the linear absorption signal. Improvement of laser diode frequency stability is discussed for these techniques. The experimental results indicate that the more complicated the system, the better defined is the reference line.>

The authors present the result of a study on the realization of an optical frequency standard based on a laser diode frequency-locked to Doppler resonance limited and sub-Doppler resonances of the /sup 87/Rb D/sub 2/-line (5S/sub 1/2/ from or to 5P/sub 3/2/, 780.027 nm). The characteristics of the signals obtained from the resonant phase-conjugate reflection, the nonlinear magnetic optical activity, and the saturated absorption are compared to the characteristics of the linear absorption signal. Improvement of laser diode frequency stability is discussed for these techniques. The experimental results indicate that the more complicated the system, the better defined is the reference line. >

We present our recently experimental results on a DFB laser diode pumped Rubidium atomic frequency standard. Our experiment was based on a homemade lamp-pumped Rubidium frequency standard with the discharge lamp assembly removed. In the experiment, we first locked a DFB laser diode to the87Rb cycling transition (5S1/2, F=2→5P3/2, F=3) by means of saturation absorption locking technique. After that, we optimized the parameters carefully related to the clock performance, such as temperature of the physical package, amplitude of the modulation signal for the laser locking. The preliminary short-term stability of our clock is measured 5.25×10−12τ−1/2(1s<τ<100s).