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Review of Scientific Instruments

Effective multiple sideband generation using an electro-optic modulator for a multiple isotope magneto-optical trap

Aiko Uchiyama, K. Harada, Kosuke Sakamoto, Umakanth Dammalapati, T. Inoue, Mitsuru Itoh, Sayaka Ito, Hirokazu Kawamura, Kazuo S. Tanaka, R. Yoshioka, Y. Sakemi

Published Dec 1, 2018• 3 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Herein, we report an effective method for the generation of radio-frequency (RF) sidebands in an electro-optic modulator for the simultaneous magneto-optical trapping of two isotopes. This is achieved by switching the RF signals alternately, which suppresses the generation of unwanted frequency signals and improves the laser power per sideband. The generated sidebands are successfully applied to a dual-rubidium-isotope magneto-optical trap (MOT), which results in an increased number of trapped atoms. This simple, flexible, and robust technique can be implemented in experiments that require a large number of atoms in multiple-isotope MOTs and for various applications.

DOI
10.1063/1.5054748

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Herein, we report an effective method for the generation of radio-frequency (RF) sidebands in an electro-optic modulator for the simultaneous magneto-optical trapping of two isotopes. This is achieved by switching the RF signals alternately, which suppresses the generation of unwanted frequency signals and improves the laser power per sideband. The generated sidebands are successfully applied to a dual-rubidium-isotope magneto-optical trap (MOT), which results in an increased number of trapped atoms. This simple, flexible, and robust technique can be implemented in experiments that require a large number of atoms in multiple-isotope MOTs and for various applications.
We present a dual isotope magneto-optical trap produced using a single diode laser. We generate all the optical frequencies needed for trapping both species using a fiber intensity modulator. All the optical frequencies are amplified simultaneously using a tapered amplifier. The independent control of each frequency is on the RF side rather than on the optical side. This introduces an enormous simplification for laser-cooling applications that often require an acousto-optic modulator for each laser beam. Frequency-changing capabilities are limited by the modulator bandwidth (10 GHz). Traps for more isotopes can be simply added by including additional RF frequencies on the modulator.
We report on the characterization of a narrow-line magneto-optical trap (MOT), where two different isotopes of the dysprosium (Dy) atom can be simultaneously loaded and trapped. We rely on phase modulation via high-power, free-space electro-optic modulators (EOMs) to generate optical sidebands at the correct detuning for two different isotopes. This technique is applied on the slowing transition at 421 nm and the MOT transition at 626 nm. Using modular resonant electronic circuits, we match the sideband separation to the isotope shift among the two target isotopes, realizing mixtures of the bosonic isotopes 164Dy -162Dy and 162Dy -160Dy. We exploit the interplay between radiation forces and gravity in the narrow-line MOT to control the spatial position of the two isotopes with the EOM drive frequency. We demonstrate full control of the isotopic mixture with the EOM drive, offering new and cost-effective capabilities for controlling mixtures of atomic species that can be trapped in a narrow-line MOT.
Abstract Electro-optic modulators are widely used for the generation of optical sidebands for various applications. Here, we report on a technique enabling control of the relative amplitudes of optical sidebands generated by electro-optic modulators. The technique makes use of a phase modulator and Mach–Zehnder amplitude modulator, connected in series to break the symmetry of the sideband amplitudes. The generated optical sideband spectrum can be controlled by the two radio frequency (RF) modulation amplitudes, the attenuation level of the amplitude modulator, and the relative RF phase of the two modulations. We demonstrate near-complete suppression of one first-order sideband and with simultaneously achieving equal amplitudes of the carrier and the other first-order sideband with > 94% purity. The technique can be utilised to produce a spectrum with effectively two frequency components. This enables application in atomic physics experiments such as the minimisation of off-resonant light shifts that can limit the performance of atomic clocks and interferometers. We demonstrate operation in the near-infrared, at 795 nm, using commercial-off-the-shelf components and circumventing the need for frequency doubling of lasers in the optical communications region.
We demonstrate simultaneous trapping and spatial separation of the two stable rubidium isotopes in a magneto-optical trap. To realize this novel type of isotope separation, we have built a compact diode laser which is frequency-stabilized by optical feedback from a diffraction grating, and frequency-modulated by a direct microwave modulation of the bias current from a yittrium iron garnet tuned oscillator. Use of the single diode laser with microwave sidebands provides much ease and flexibility in the applications of a magneto-optical trap.
Trapping a large number of 6Li^{6}\mathrm{Li}6Li atoms in a simplified experimental setup is a long-term pursuit in the studies of degenerate Fermi gases. We experimentally and theoretically demonstrate the enhancement of 6Li^{6}\mathrm{Li}6Li trapping efficiency in a three-dimensional magneto-optical trap (3D MOT) by using the multiple-sideband cooling in a two-dimensional magneto-optical trap (2D MOT). In the 2D MOT, we increase the spectral width of the cooling light to 102 MHz by generating six frequency sidebands in order to couple fast atoms. The capture velocity is dramatically increased by employing the multiple-sideband cooling. The number of trapped atoms in the 3D MOT is $6.0\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{8}$, which is higher by a factor of 4 than in the case of single-frequency cooling. We have investigated the dependence of atom number on laser detuning, and our experimental result agrees well with the prediction of a simple two-level model. The efficiency of the multiple-sideband cooling for lithium (in contrast to many other alkali-metal atoms) is also confirmed by the analysis of the loss due to fine-structure changing collisions.