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Japanese Journal of Applied Physics

An all-sapphire Cs gas cell for a chip-scale atomic clock

Yuichi Kurashima, Takashi Matsumae, Shinya Yanagimachi, Kazuhiro Harasaka, Hideki Takagi

Published Aug 19, 2019• 8 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Abstract We realized a Cs gas cell for a chip-scale atomic clock fabricated from single-crystal sapphire chips, which have extremely-low gas penetration coefficients. The coherent population trapping (CPT) resonance spectrum was evaluated to validate the developed sapphire Cs gas cell. A CPT resonance with a contrast of 1.5%, a frequency shift (from the Cs hyperfine transition frequency) of 55.9 kHz, and a full width at half maximum of 2.2 kHz was obtained at an incident light intensity of 40 μ W cm −2 . The frequency shift was mainly caused by the collision between Ne sealed in the gas cell and Cs atoms. From the experimental results, the pressure of Ne was estimated to be 10.7 kPa.

DOI
10.7567/1347-4065/ab3c07

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Abstract We realized a Cs gas cell for a chip-scale atomic clock fabricated from single-crystal sapphire chips, which have extremely-low gas penetration coefficients. The coherent population trapping (CPT) resonance spectrum was evaluated to validate the developed sapphire Cs gas cell. A CPT resonance with a contrast of 1.5%, a frequency shift (from the Cs hyperfine transition frequency) of 55.9 kHz, and a full width at half maximum of 2.2 kHz was obtained at an incident light intensity of 40 μ W cm −2 . The frequency shift was mainly caused by the collision between Ne sealed in the gas cell and Cs atoms. From the experimental results, the pressure of Ne was estimated to be 10.7 kPa.
We report the characterization of dark line resonances observed in Cs vapor microcells filled with a unique neon (Ne) buffer gas. The impact on the coherent population trapping (CPT) resonance of some critical external parameters such as laser intensity, cell temperature, and microwave power is studied. We show the suppression of the first-order light shift by proper choice of the microwave power. The temperature dependence of the Cs ground state hyperfine resonance frequency is shown to be canceled in the 77–80 °C range for various Ne buffer gas pressures. The necessity to adjust the Ne buffer gas pressure or the cell dimensions to optimize the CPT signal height at the frequency inversion temperature is pointed out. Based on such Cs–Ne microcells, we preliminary demonstrate a 852 nm vertical cavity surface emitted laser (VCSEL)-modulated based CPT atomic clock exhibiting a short term fractional frequency instability σy(τ)=1.5×10−10τ−1/2 until 30 s. These results, similar to those published in the literature by others groups, prove the potential of our original microcell technology in view of the development of high-performance chip scale atomic clocks.
We report the characterization of Coherent Population Trapping (CPT) resonances in Cs vapor microcells filled with Neon (Ne) buffer gas. The impact on the atomic hyperfine resonance of some external parameters such as laser intensity and cell temperature is studied. We show the suppression of the first-order light shift by proper choice of the microwave power. The temperature dependence of the Cs ground state hyperfine resonance frequency is shown to be canceled in the 77-80°C range for various Ne buffer gas pressures. We preliminary demonstrate a 852 nm VCSEL-modulated based CPT atomic clock exhibiting a short term fractional frequency instability σy(τ) = 1.5×10-10τ-1/2until 200 s.
Herein, a microfabricated millimeter-level vapor alkali cell with a high hermeticity is fabricated through a wet etching and single-chip anodic bonding process. The vapor cell, containing Rb and N2, was investigated in a coherent population trapping (CPT) setup for the application of a chip-scale atomic clock (CSAC). The contrast of CPT resonance is up to 1.1% within the only 1 mm length of light interacting with atom. The effects of some critical external parameters on the CPT resonance, such as laser intensity, cell temperature, and buffer gas pressure, are thoroughly studied and optimized. The improved microfabricated vapor cell also exhibited great potential for other chip-scale atomic devices.
We report on the mid-term stability progress of a table-top coherent population trapping (CPT) microcell atomic clock, previously limited by light-shift effects and variations of the cell's inner atmosphere. The light-shift contribution is now mitigated through the use of a pulsed symmetric auto-balanced Ramsey (SABR) interrogation technique, combined with setup temperature, laser power, and microwave power stabilization. In addition, Ne buffer gas pressure variations in the cell are now greatly reduced through the use of a micro-fabricated cell built with low permeation alumino-silicate glass (ASG) windows. Combining these approaches, the clock Allan deviation is measured to be 1.4 × 10 −12 at 10 5 s. This stability level at one day is competitive with the best current microwave microcell-based atomic clocks.
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.
Research on chip-scale atomic clocks (CSACs) based on coherent population trapping (CPT) is reviewed. The background and the inspiration for the research are described, including the important schemes proposed to improve the CPT signal quality, the selection of atoms and buffer gases, and the development of micro-cell fabrication. With regard to the reliability, stability, and service life of the CSACs, the research regarding the sensitivity of the CPT resonance to temperature and laser power changes is also reviewed, as well as the CPT resonance's collision and light of frequency shifts. The first generation CSACs have already been developed but its characters are still far from our expectations. Our conclusion is that miniaturization and power reduction are the most important aspects calling for further research.