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

Conference on Precision Electromagnetic Measurements

Operating atomic fountain clock using robust DBR laser system

Sangmin Lee, Myoung-Sun Heo, Taeg Yong Kwon, Hyun-Gue Hong, Sang-Bum Lee, John Gideon Hartnett, Sang Eon Park

Published Jul 1, 2016• 2 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We operate an atomic fountain clock KRISS-F1 using a laser system based on a DBR (Distributed Bragg Reflector) laser. We have found that there is no major difference in the fountain performance between laser systems with an ECDL (Extended-Cavity Diode Laser) and the DBR laser, even though spectral properties of the DBR is worse than that of ECDL. Moreover, quantum projection-noise limited stability is observed using DBR lasers. After replacing the ECDL to the DBR laser, laser system of the fountain clock became robust against acoustic and vibration noise mainly from mechanical shutters. Therefore, currently KRISS-F1 can be operated without failure of laser locking.

DOI
10.1109/cpem.2016.7540697

Related papers

Operating Atomic Fountain Clock Using Robust DBR Laser: Short-Term Stability Analysis

Sangmin Lee, Myoung-Sun Heo, Taeg Yong Kwon +6 more

We report on a robust distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) laser system for an atomic fountain clock. To confirm the performance of a DBR laser, the short-term stability of an atomic fountain clock, KRISS-F1, is measured with both DBR laser and an extended-cavity diode laser (ECDL) as a master laser in the fountain laser system. The short-term stability of the fountain clock due to the laser noise is determined to be σy(τ = Tc) = 1.4×10-14when either the ECDL or the DBR laser is used as a master laser. The total stability of the fountain clock with the DBR laser is limited to 3.5 × 10-14at 1 s of averaging time and at the highest atom number in the experiment, which is limited by quantum projection noise. No additional degradation in fountain performance is observed when an ECDL is replaced by the DBR laser. From these results, we conclude that our fountain clock is made much more robust by adopting a DBR laser, which is immune to acoustic and vibrational shocks as well as environmental temperature variations.

IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement•Jan 2, 2017•14 citations

Reaching the quantum limit in a fountain clock using a microwave oscillator phase locked to an ultrastable laser

S. Weyers, B. Lipphardt, H. Schnatz

A cesium fountain clock is operated utilizing a microwave oscillator that derives its frequency stability from a stable laser by means of a fiber-laser femtosecond frequency comb. This oscillator is based on the technology developed for optical clocks and replaces the quartz-based microwave oscillator commonly used in fountain clocks. As a result, a significant decrease in the frequency instability of the fountain clock is obtained, reaching $7.4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}14}{[\ensuremath{\tau}\text{ }(\text{s})]}^{\ensuremath{-}1/2}$. We could demonstrate that for a significant range of detected atom numbers the instability is limited by quantum projection noise only, and that for the current status of this fountain clock the microwave source poses no limit on the achievable frequency instability.

arXiv:0901.2788•Physical Review A•Mar 11, 2009•86 citations

KRISS atomic fountain clock: Current status

Sang Eon Park, Long Zhe Li, Sang-Bum Lee +4 more

We present a current status of a Rb/Cs double fountain clock developing at KRISS. Fountain clock has cooling laser beam with (111)-geometry so as to enlarge cooling beam diameter. Currently few 107Cs atoms are trapped and cooled in MOT. And we observed Ramsey fringes. The linewith of central Ramsey fringe was measured to be 1 Hz with the S/N of 600.

Conference on Precision Electromagnetic Measurements•Jul 1, 2012•0 citations

High-performance coherent population trapping atomic clock with direct-modulation distributed Bragg reflector laser

Peter Yun, Qinglin Li, Qiang Hao +7 more

Abstract The coherent population trapping (CPT) atomic clock is very promising for use in next-generation spaceborne applications owing to its compactness and high performance. In this paper, we propose and implement a CPT atomic clock based on the direct modulation of a large-modulation-bandwidth and narrow-linewidth distributed Bragg reflector laser, which replaces the usually used external bulk modulator in high-performance CPT clocks. Our method retains the high performance while significantly reducing the clock size. Using this highly compact bichromatic light source and simplest CPT configuration, in which a circularly polarized bichromatic laser interrogates the 87 Rb atom system, a CPT signal of clock transition with a narrow linewidth and high contrast is observed. We then lock the local oscillator frequency to the CPT resonance and demonstrate an encouraging short-term frequency stability of 3.6 × 10 −13 τ −1/2 (4 s ⩽ τ ⩽ 200 s). We attribute it to the ultralow laser frequency and intensity noise as well as to the high-quality-factor CPT signal. This study can pave the way for the development of compact high-performance CPT clocks based on our scheme.

arXiv:2103.00707•Metrologia•May 11, 2021•22 citations

An integrated laser system for the cold atom clock

Mingyuan Yu, Hua-Dong Cheng, Yanling Meng +5 more

We demonstrate an integrated laser system for the mobile integrating sphere cold atom clock. Three distributed Bragg reflector diode lasers (780 nm) with custom drive circuits are used for the cooling, repumping, pumping, and probe lights. Automatic frequency-locking and relocking of the laser are presented. All of the optical elements are integrated on two sides of an aluminum base plate. The mechanical structure is simulated and optimized to minimize the deformation of the base plate. We optimize, measure, and discuss the frequency and intensity noises of the laser system. The techniques and designs used in this laser system can also be used in other mobile platforms for quantum sensing experiments.

Review of Scientific Instruments•May 1, 2019•9 citations

A Simplified Laser and Optics System for Laser-Cooled RB Fountain Frequency Standards

Paul D. Kunz, Thomas P. Heavner, Steven R. Jefferts

We are developing a simple and robust laser and optics system suitable for a transportable laser-cooled rubidium (Rb) atomic fountain frequency standard. This system uses DFB (Distributed Feedback) diode lasers and a frequency offset-locking scheme to generate the optical frequencies needed for laser-cooling, launching, post-cooling, and detection of Rb atoms. Here, we describe the early results from this project and the anticipated performance of a compact, transportable Rb fountain frequency standard using this laser system. This system will also be useful for nontransportable laser-cooled atomic frequency standards.

•Nov 1, 2007•1 citation
We operate an atomic fountain clock KRISS-F1 using a laser system based on a DBR (Distributed Bragg Reflector) laser. We have found that there is no major difference in the fountain performance between laser systems with an ECDL (Extended-Cavity Diode Laser) and the DBR laser, even though spectral properties of the DBR is worse than that of ECDL. Moreover, quantum projection-noise limited stability is observed using DBR lasers. After replacing the ECDL to the DBR laser, laser system of the fountain clock became robust against acoustic and vibration noise mainly from mechanical shutters. Therefore, currently KRISS-F1 can be operated without failure of laser locking.
We report on a robust distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) laser system for an atomic fountain clock. To confirm the performance of a DBR laser, the short-term stability of an atomic fountain clock, KRISS-F1, is measured with both DBR laser and an extended-cavity diode laser (ECDL) as a master laser in the fountain laser system. The short-term stability of the fountain clock due to the laser noise is determined to be σy(τ = Tc) = 1.4×10-14when either the ECDL or the DBR laser is used as a master laser. The total stability of the fountain clock with the DBR laser is limited to 3.5 × 10-14at 1 s of averaging time and at the highest atom number in the experiment, which is limited by quantum projection noise. No additional degradation in fountain performance is observed when an ECDL is replaced by the DBR laser. From these results, we conclude that our fountain clock is made much more robust by adopting a DBR laser, which is immune to acoustic and vibrational shocks as well as environmental temperature variations.
A cesium fountain clock is operated utilizing a microwave oscillator that derives its frequency stability from a stable laser by means of a fiber-laser femtosecond frequency comb. This oscillator is based on the technology developed for optical clocks and replaces the quartz-based microwave oscillator commonly used in fountain clocks. As a result, a significant decrease in the frequency instability of the fountain clock is obtained, reaching $7.4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}14}{[\ensuremath{\tau}\text{ }(\text{s})]}^{\ensuremath{-}1/2}$. We could demonstrate that for a significant range of detected atom numbers the instability is limited by quantum projection noise only, and that for the current status of this fountain clock the microwave source poses no limit on the achievable frequency instability.
Abstract The coherent population trapping (CPT) atomic clock is very promising for use in next-generation spaceborne applications owing to its compactness and high performance. In this paper, we propose and implement a CPT atomic clock based on the direct modulation of a large-modulation-bandwidth and narrow-linewidth distributed Bragg reflector laser, which replaces the usually used external bulk modulator in high-performance CPT clocks. Our method retains the high performance while significantly reducing the clock size. Using this highly compact bichromatic light source and simplest CPT configuration, in which a circularly polarized bichromatic laser interrogates the 87 Rb atom system, a CPT signal of clock transition with a narrow linewidth and high contrast is observed. We then lock the local oscillator frequency to the CPT resonance and demonstrate an encouraging short-term frequency stability of 3.6 × 10 −13 τ −1/2 (4 s ⩽ τ ⩽ 200 s). We attribute it to the ultralow laser frequency and intensity noise as well as to the high-quality-factor CPT signal. This study can pave the way for the development of compact high-performance CPT clocks based on our scheme.
We demonstrate an integrated laser system for the mobile integrating sphere cold atom clock. Three distributed Bragg reflector diode lasers (780 nm) with custom drive circuits are used for the cooling, repumping, pumping, and probe lights. Automatic frequency-locking and relocking of the laser are presented. All of the optical elements are integrated on two sides of an aluminum base plate. The mechanical structure is simulated and optimized to minimize the deformation of the base plate. We optimize, measure, and discuss the frequency and intensity noises of the laser system. The techniques and designs used in this laser system can also be used in other mobile platforms for quantum sensing experiments.
We are developing a simple and robust laser and optics system suitable for a transportable laser-cooled rubidium (Rb) atomic fountain frequency standard. This system uses DFB (Distributed Feedback) diode lasers and a frequency offset-locking scheme to generate the optical frequencies needed for laser-cooling, launching, post-cooling, and detection of Rb atoms. Here, we describe the early results from this project and the anticipated performance of a compact, transportable Rb fountain frequency standard using this laser system. This system will also be useful for nontransportable laser-cooled atomic frequency standards.