Optical and Quantum Sensing and Precision Metrology II

Towards a compact atomic clock based on coherent population trapping and the grating magneto-optical trap

Erling Riis, Gregory W. Hoth, Rachel Elvin, Michael W. Wright, Ben Lewis, Aidan S. Arnold, Paul F. Griffin

Published Mar 1, 2019• 4 citations

Abstract

The combination of coherent population trapping (CPT) and laser cooled atoms is a promising platform for realizing the next generation of compact atomic frequency references. Towards this goal, we have developed an apparatus based on the grating magneto-optical trap (GMOT) and the high-contrast lin ⊥ lin CPT scheme in order to explore the performance that can be achieved. One important trade-off for cold-atom systems arises from the need to simultaneously maximize the number of cold atoms available for interrogation and the repetition rate of the system. This compromise can be mitigated by recapturing cold atoms from cycle to cycle. Here, we report a quantitative characterization of the cold atom number in the recapture regime for our system, which will enable us to optimize this trade-off. We also report recent measurements of the short-term frequency stability with a short-term Allan deviation of 3 × 10-11/τ up to an averaging time of τ = 10 s.

DOI: 10.1117/12.2516612

Related papers

Progress of a compact microwave clock based on atoms cooled with a diffractive optic

Rachel Elvin, Gregory W. Hoth, Michael W. Wright +6 more

An atomic clock based on a compact source of cold atoms and coherent population trapping (CPT) is an encouraging goal for future low-volume atomic frequency references. Our experiment seeks to investigate the performance of such a system by applying CPT in a high-contrast lin⊥lin polarisation scheme to our 87Rb grating magneto optical trap (GMOT) apparatus. In this paper, we report on our progress of improving short- term stability of our cold-atom CPT apparatus. Our recent measurements have shown a short-term stability of 5 x 10-11/√τ, with the ability to average down for times τ>100s.

SPIE eBooksFeb 25, 20200 citations

Progress of Compact CPT Rb Atomic Clock based on Grating Magneto-Optical Trap

Junyi Duan, Xiaochi Liu, Ning Ru +2 more

The combination of coherent population trapping (CPT) physics and grating magneto-optical trap (GMOT) holds a potential of developing the next generation high performance compact atomic clock. In this work, we aim to build a Rb atomic clock that combining double-modulation coherent population trapping (DM-CPT) in GMOT system. In order to maximize the atoms trapped in clock transition, circularly polarization laser beam is replaced by modulated σ+and σ-beam, with which high-contrast and narrow-linewidth CPT signal could be observed. Also the GMOT system is designed for the interrogation of laser-cooled atoms. This work could provide foundation of high performance compact cold-atom CPT clock.

Conference on Precision Electromagnetic MeasurementsAug 1, 20200 citations

Impact of Laser Frequency Noise in Coherent Population Trapping with Cold Atoms

Gregory W. Hoth, Rachel Elvin, Michael W. Wright +7 more

Laser-cooled atoms and coherent population trapping (CPT) are promising tools for realizing a compact microwave frequency reference with excellent stability. To realize a high performance device, it is necessary to understand and minimize all sources of technical noise. Here, we investigate the role of laser frequency noise in cold-atom CPT with an apparatus based on the grating magneto-optical trap (GMOT). We compare the performance of our setup with an external cavity diode laser (ECDL) and a distributed feedback diode laser (DFB). With the DFB, laser frequency noise is one of the dominant noise sources in our system. With the ECDL, it is significantly reduced. We also report frequency stability measurements of our apparatus with a short-term Allan deviation σy(τ) = 3×10-11/√τ up to τ = 10 s.

Joint Conference of the European Frequency and Time Forum and IEEE International Frequency Control Symposium (EFTF/IFCS)Apr 1, 20191 citation

High-performance coherent population trapping clock based on laser-cooled atoms

Xiaochi Liu, Ning Ru, Junyi Duan +3 more

We present a coherent population trapping clock system based on laser-cooled 87Rb atoms. The clock consists of a frequency-stabilized CPT interrogation laser and a cooling laser as well as a compact magneto-optical trap, a high-performance microwave synthesizer, and a signal detection system. The resonance signal in the continuous wave regime exhibits an absorption contrast of ∼ 50%. In the Ramsey interrogation method, the linewidth of the central fringe is 31.25 Hz. The system achieves fractional frequency stability of 2.4 × 10 − 11 / τ , which goes down to 1.8 × 10−13 at 20000 s. The results validate that cold atom interrogation can improve the long-term frequency stability of coherent population trapping clocks and holds the potential for developing compact/miniature cold atoms clocks.

Chinese Physics BOct 6, 20218 citations

Development of a Compact Cold-Atom Atomic Clock Based on Coherent Population Trapping

E. Blanshan

Field-grade atomic clocks capable of primary standard performance in compact physics packages would be of significant value in a variety of applications ranging from network synchronization and secure communications to GPS hold-over and inertial navigation. A cold-atom coherent population trapping (CACPT) clock featuring laser-cooled 87RB atoms and pulsed Ramsey interrogation is a strong candidate for this technology if the principal frequency shifts can be controlled and the performance degradation associated with miniaturization can be overcome. In this thesis, research focused on the development of this type of compact atomic clock is presented. To address the low atom numbers obtained in small cold-atom sources, experiments were performed in which an atomic beam was decelerated with bichromatic stimulated laser forces and loaded into a mm-scale magneto-optical trap, increasing the atom number by a factor of 12.5x. A CACPT clock using the high-contrast lin||lin optical interrogation technique was developed and achieved a stability of 7 × 10-13 after one hour of integration. Doppler shifts in the clock are explained using a simple kinematic model and canceled by interrogating the atoms with a counter-propagating CPT configuration. Finally, a thorough characterization of the AC-stark effect in lin||lin CPT was performed. Observed shifts are explained in terms of contributions from coherent CPT-generating couplings and population transfer effects caused by optical pumping from incoherent light. Measurements are compared with existing and new theoretical treatments, and a laser configuration is identified that reduces clock drift from light shifts to less than 10-14 for the current system.

Jan 1, 20142 citations

Cold-atom clock based on a diffractive optic

Rachel Elvin, Gregory W. Hoth, Wright, M. +5 more

Clocks based on cold atoms offer unbeatable accuracy and long-term stability, but their use in portable quantum technologies is hampered by a large physical footprint. Here, we use the compact optical layout of a grating magneto-optical trap (gMOT) for a precise frequency reference. The gMOT collects 10 7 87Rb atoms, which are subsequently cooled to 20 µK in optical molasses. We optically probe the microwave atomic ground-state splitting using lin┴lin polarised coherent population trapping and a Raman-Ramsey sequence. With ballistic drop distances of only 0.5 mm, the measured short-term fractional frequency stability is 2 × 10 −11/√τ.

Dec 18, 201914 citations