Novel Coherent Optical Medium Based on Buffer-Gas-Cooled Rb Vapor

We demonstrate that buffer-gas cooling combined with laser ablation can be used to create coherent optical media with high optical depth and low Doppler broadening that offers metastable states with low collisional and motional decoherence. Demonstration of this generic technique opens pathways to coherent optics with a large variety of atoms and molecules. We use helium buffer gas to cool $^{87}\mathrm{Rb}$ atoms to below $7\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$ and slow atom diffusion to the walls. Electromagnetically induced transparency in this medium allows for 50% transmission in a medium with initial optical depth $D>70$ and for slow pulse propagation with large delay-bandwidth products. In the high- $D$ regime, we observe high-contrast spectrum oscillations due to efficient four-wave mixing.We demonstrate that buffer-gas cooling combined with laser ablation can be used to create coherent optical media with high optical depth and low Doppler broadening that offers metastable states with low collisional and motional decoherence. Demonstration of this generic technique opens pathways to coherent optics with a large variety of atoms and molecules. We use helium buffer gas to cool $^{87}\mathrm{Rb}$ atoms to below $7\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$ and slow atom diffusion to the walls. Electromagnetically induced transparency in this medium allows for 50% transmission in a medium with initial optical depth $D>70$ and for slow pulse propagation with large delay-bandwidth products. In the high-$D$ regime, we observe high-contrast spectrum oscillations due to efficient four-wave mixing.

arXiv:0805.1416Physical Review AJan 6, 200927 citations

Enhanced temperature sensitivity in vapor-cell frequency standards

Claudio Eligio Calosso, A. Godone, Filippo Levi +1 more

We report on the measurement of an anomalously large temperature sensitivity of the clock frequency in a Rb cell with buffer gas. The effect is observed in a prototype of pulsed optically pumped frequency standard which allows high resolution measurements because of its frequency stability at the level 1.7 × 10(-13) for 1 s of measurement time. We attribute this phenomenon to the geometry of the interaction and to the presence in the cell of temperature inhomogeneities that may enhance the temperature sensitivity of the clock frequency via the buffer gas pressure coefficient. We also propose some solutions to reduce this unwanted effect that may limit the medium-long-term performances of high-frequency-stability vapor-cell clocks.We report on the measurement of an anomalously large temperature sensitivity of the clock frequency in a Rb cell with buffer gas. The effect is observed in a prototype of pulsed optically pumped frequency standard which allows high resolution measurements because of its frequency stability at the level 1.7 × 10(-13) for 1 s of measurement time. We attribute this phenomenon to the geometry of the interaction and to the presence in the cell of temperature inhomogeneities that may enhance the temperature sensitivity of the clock frequency via the buffer gas pressure coefficient. We also propose some solutions to reduce this unwanted effect that may limit the medium-long-term performances of high-frequency-stability vapor-cell clocks.

IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics Ferroelectrics and Frequency ControlDec 1, 201242 citations

Simple ultrahigh resolution optical receiver: theory in Rb vapor

Thomas M. Shay, Peter G. Wanninger

Conference on Lasers and Electro-OpticsMay 21, 19901 citation

Towards quantum and non-linear optics with buffer-gas cooled atoms and molecules

Sofia Magkiriadou, Dave Patterson, Alexey Vyacheslavovich Gorshkov +3 more

Bulletin of the American Physical SocietyMay 23, 20090 citations

^{87}\mathrm{Rb}

atoms to below

7\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}

and slow atom diffusion to the walls. Electromagnetically induced transparency in this medium allows for 50% transmission in a medium with initial optical depth

D>70

and for slow pulse propagation with large delay-bandwidth products. In the high-

D

regime, we observe high-contrast spectrum oscillations due to efficient four-wave mixing.