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Chip-scale atomic diffractive optical elements

Stern Liron, Douglas G. Bopp, Susan A. Schima, Vincent N. Maurice, John E. Kitching

Published Jul 1, 2019• 41 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Quantum coherence and the nonlinear properties of atoms are highly useful in optical devices. Here the authors show quantum-optic hybrid platforms in fully integrated chip-scale atomic diffractive optical elements by embedding hot atomic Rb vapor in microfabricated structures in silicon.
DOI
10.1038/s41467-019-11145-5

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The efficient light-matter interaction and discrete level structure of atomic vapors made possible numerous seminal scientific achievements including time-keeping, extreme non-linear interactions, and strong coupling to electric and magnetic fields in quantum sensors. As such, atomic systems can be regarded as a highly resourceful quantum material platform. Recently, the field of thin optical elements with miniscule features has been extensively studied demonstrating an unprecedented ability to control photonic degrees of freedom. Hybridization of atoms with such thin optical devices may offer a material system enhancing the functionality of traditional vapor cells. Here, we demonstrate chip-scale, quantum diffractive optical elements which map atomic states to the spatial distribution of diffracted light. Two foundational diffractive elements, lamellar gratings and Fresnel lenses, are hybridized with atomic vapors demonstrating exceptionally strong frequency-dependent, non-linear and magneto-optic behaviors. Providing the design tools for chip-scale atomic diffractive optical elements develops a path for compact thin quantum-optical elements.
Offset stabilization of a laser's frequency relative to an atomic transition is crucial for many quantum technologies, but equipment for it is often bulky or dependent on magnetic fields, limiting integration into compact systems. Exploiting the interference properties of atoms geometrically confined within diffractive optical elements, this study presents a chip-scale, hybrid atomic-photonic approach that enables multiple stabilization points with submegahertz precision over a bandwidth of tens of gigahertz. This miniaturization, with no need for magnetic fields, points to the next generation of compact laser-stabilization devices for quantum applications and precision spectroscopy.
The interaction between light and vapors in the presence of magnetic fields is fundamental to many quantum technologies and applications. Recently, the ability to geometrically confine atoms into periodic structures has enabled the creation of chip-scale, micromachined hybrid atomic-diffractive optical elements. However, applying magnetic fields to such structures remains largely unexplored, offering potential for both fundamental and applied insights. Here, we present measurements of an atomic-diffractive optical element subject to magnetic fields. In contrast to the well-known polarization rotation in a Faraday medium, these diffractive atomic elements exhibit additional, rapidly oscillating rotation terms, which we validate both theoretically and experimentally. Moreover, we find that the introduction of spatially varying magnetic fields leads to a reduction in fringe visibility, which can be leveraged for gradiometric applications. Together, these effects establish a chip-scale platform where diffraction and quantum sensing are inseparably co-engineered, unveiling previously inaccessible regimes of atom–photon–magnetic interaction. By probing the magneto-optic response of periodically confined vapors, our results lay the groundwork for integrated smart-cell magnetometers and open new avenues for flat-optics-enabled quantum photonic devices.
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