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Joint Conference of the European Frequency and Time Forum and IEEE International Frequency Control Symposium (EFTF/IFCS)

Narrow linewidth CPT signal in small vapor cells for chip scale atomic clocks

Miao Zhu, Leonard S. Cutler, J.E. Berberian, Jeff F. DeNatale, Philip A. Stupar, Chailun Tsai

Published Apr 12, 2005• 7 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We report our measurement of coherent-population-trapping (CPT) signal linewidths in small vapor cells, which are desirable for chip scale atomic clock (CSAC) applications. The linewidths are measured in both rubidium vapor cells and cesium vapor cells. Using a micro-machined silicon absorption cell (diameter = 1.7 mm, length = 2 mm), we demonstrate a sub-kHz linewidth (FWHM) of the clock transition in the /sup 133/Cs atom (|F = 3, m/sub F/ = 0>/spl harr/|F = 4, m/sub F/ = 0>). The measured intrinsic linewidths (FWHM = 777 Hz for Cs and FWHM = 1496 Hz for Rb) of the cells agree with the calculated results.

DOI
10.1109/freq.2004.1418435

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St Petersburg Polytechnical University Journal Physics and Mathematics•Mar 1, 2015•10 citations
We report our measurement of coherent-population-trapping (CPT) signal linewidths in small vapor cells, which are desirable for chip scale atomic clock (CSAC) applications. The linewidths are measured in both rubidium vapor cells and cesium vapor cells. Using a micro-machined silicon absorption cell (diameter = 1.7 mm, length = 2 mm), we demonstrate a sub-kHz linewidth (FWHM) of the clock transition in the /sup 133/Cs atom (|F = 3, m/sub F/ = 0>/spl harr/|F = 4, m/sub F/ = 0>). The measured intrinsic linewidths (FWHM = 777 Hz for Cs and FWHM = 1496 Hz for Rb) of the cells agree with the calculated results.
To Obtain an appropriate coherent population trapping (CPT) signal through a miniature atomic vapor cell is one of the key steps to implement a chip-scale atomic clock (CSAC). In the present experiment, the high S/N differential CPT spectral line has been achieved with a miniature atomic vapor cell through modulating the laser and extracting 87Rb atom laser interacting signal using the phase sensitive demodulation technique. With the spectral line, the dependence of CPT signal on the working parameters and the dependence of frequency stability of CSAC on the quality of the CPT signal have been studied; the obtained experimental results agree well with the theoretical prediction, which can be used as the recommended working parameters for CSAC. The methods exploited in the experiment can be implemented in the resource of a CSAC, therefore this experiment explores for CSAC the practical approaches of performance optimization.
We have undertaken the development of a chip-scale atomic clock (CSAC) whose design goals include short-term stability, sigma(sub y)(tau=1 hour), of 1x10(exp 11) with a total power consumption of 30 mW and an overall device volume of 1 cu cm. The stringent power requirement dominates the physics package architecture, dictating a small (<5 mm(exp 3) gaseous atomic ensemble interrogated by a low-power semiconductor laser. At PTTI 2002, we reported on initial experimental investigations leading to the decision to employ the coherent population trapping (CPT) interrogation technique. This paper describes our further progress on the CSAC effort, including the development of custom vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) sources and techniques for microfabricating miniature cesium vapor cells comprised of anodically bonded silicon and glass. Measurements of the signal contrast and linewidth of both the cesium D1 and D2 resonance transitions are compared, and frequency stability measurements of the CSAC testbed are presented.
In recent years, the coherent population trapping (CPT) phenomenon using a very small cell has attracted considerable attention for its potential application to ultra-compact atomic clock. For the miniaturization of CPT clock, it is important to clarify influence by the collision with atoms and cell walls. We study the effect of cell geometry on the CPT spectrum using a thin Cs vapor cell without buffer gas. When the cell length is below 1 mm and the laser intensity is sufficiently weak, the transit-time broadening is largely suppressed because only slow atoms have enough time to settle down on the dark state and contribute to the CPT signals. Furthermore, we show that introduction of buffer gas may broaden the CPT resonance in extremely thin cells. We also show that sub-Doppler signal which can be used for stabilization of laser frequency is obtained by using the CPT signal.
The article presents the results of the development, fabrication and investigation of miniature cesium vapor cells for quantum frequency standards with optical pumping, working on the effect of coherent population trapping. Microelectromechanical systems technologies were used in the manufacture of cells. For the first time, the dry silicon etching in inductively coupled plasma of sulfur hexafluoride and freon gas in a mixed mode was used to form internal cavities of cells with a thickness of 1.5 mm. Vacuum-tight sealing of cells containing a solid-state source of cesium vapor and buffer gas was carried out by anodic bonding of glass and silicon in a neon atmosphere. The coherent population trapping signal with a linewidth of 750 Hz and a signal-to-noise ratio of 1190 in the 1-Hz bandwidth was observed. Experimental results show that these microcells are appropriate for applications to atomic clock with a relative frequency stability of6⋅10−116\cdot 10^{-11}6⋅10−11at 1 s.
An atomic magnetometer based on coherent population trapping (CPT) resonances in microfabricated vapor cells is demonstrated. Fabricated by the micro-electro-mechanical-system (MEMS) technology, the cells are filled with Rb and Ne at a controlled pressure. An experimental apparatus is built for characterizing properties of microfabricated vapor cells via the CPT effects. The typical CPT linewidth is measured to be about 3 kHz (1.46 kHz with approximately zero laser intensity) for the rubidium D1 line at about 90 °C. The effects of pressure, temperature and laser intensity on CPT linewidth are studied experimentally. A closed-loop atomic magnetometer is finally finished with a sensitivity of 210.5 pT/Hz1/2 at 1 Hz bandwidth. This work paves the way for developing an integrated chip-scale atomic magnetometer in the future.
A universal method for fabrication of miniature cells for frequency standards and quantum magnetometers containing 87Rb atoms in the atmosphere of inert gas neon based on integrated technologies is considered. The results of experimental studies of coherent population trapping signals observed for a series of cells which provided recovery of vapors of an alkali metal from the rubidium dichromate salt with the help of laser radiation are presented. The coherent population trapping signals with a typical linewidth of 2–3 kHz and a signal-to-noise ratio of 1500 in the 1-Hz bandwidth were observed, which allows one to provide a relative frequency stability of atomic clock of 10−11 at 100 s.