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Optics Express

Simple and robust architecture of a laser system for atom interferometry

Sumit Sarkar, Raphaël Piccon, Sébastien Merlet, Franck Pereira dos Santos

Published Jan 7, 2022• 16 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We report a compact and robust architecture of a versatile laser system that allows the implementation of several advanced atom interferometry techniques, such as Bragg diffraction, Bloch oscillations, or single and double Raman diffraction. A low noise, frequency tunable fiber-laser (λ = ~1560 nm) serves as the seed. A couple of fiber-coupled amplifiers followed by two fibered second-harmonic generators produce a pair of phase-locked, frequency-controllable laser beams at 780 nm. Manipulating frequencies of individual laser beams at λ = 1560 nm before the amplifiers, facilitates achieving a maximum relative detuning of ± 20 MHz, while maintaining a constant output power. We present the scheme to implement Raman spectroscopy using our laser system and discuss its advantages. Finally, the overall performance of the laser setup has been evaluated by realizing interferometers in copropagating Ramsey-Raman and counterpropagating Bragg configuration.

DOI
10.1364/oe.447073

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We report a compact and robust architecture of a versatile laser system that allows the implementation of several advanced atom interferometry techniques, such as Bragg diffraction, Bloch oscillations, or single and double Raman diffraction. A low noise, frequency tunable fiber-laser (λ = ~1560 nm) serves as the seed. A couple of fiber-coupled amplifiers followed by two fibered second-harmonic generators produce a pair of phase-locked, frequency-controllable laser beams at 780 nm. Manipulating frequencies of individual laser beams at λ = 1560 nm before the amplifiers, facilitates achieving a maximum relative detuning of ± 20 MHz, while maintaining a constant output power. We present the scheme to implement Raman spectroscopy using our laser system and discuss its advantages. Finally, the overall performance of the laser setup has been evaluated by realizing interferometers in copropagating Ramsey-Raman and counterpropagating Bragg configuration.
A new robust laser system for mobile atom interferometers is reported. Phase modulation of a single diode laser provide two phase-coherent frequencies necessary for the Raman transition in light-pulse atom interferometers. Additional laser frequencies generated by the phase modulation, which would disturb the phase of atom interferometers, is filtered by a Fabry-Perot cavity. The two sidebands of the phase-modulated light is tuned to the adjacent resonances of the cavity and the carrier mode and even-order higher sidebands are filtered. The laser beam is then fed to a single tapered amplifier, and the two sidebands are both amplified without mode competition. The phase noise is lower than that of a state-of-the-art optically phase-locked external-cavity diode laser (-135 dBrad2/Hz at 10 kHz). This technique can be used in all-fiber-based laser systems for future mobile atom interferometers. The laser system has advantage of low phase noise, high mechanical stability, low power consumption and compactness.
A compact laser system for a portable 87Rb atom interferometry gravimeter has been demonstrated in this work. This laser system is based on frequency doubling of a single seed laser at the wavelength of 1560 nm. The frequency of the seed laser is controlled by a digital unit with an analog feedback circuit. By using this frequency control method, the frequency of the laser system can be shifted over 1 GHz. Based on this method, the Raman frequency can be locked on the F = 3 → F′ = 4 transition of 85Rb atoms. Moreover, the Raman sideband and the repumping laser are generated by a phase modulator, and it can generate different laser frequencies to meet the requirements of a typical atom interferometer. Additional sidebands in the Raman beam produced from the phase modulator are optimized and reduced, allowing us to observe atom interference with a free evolution time of 320 ms. The control unit including the laser system has been integrated into a box with a volume of 1.5 m × 0.6 m × 0.6 m, and the weight of which is only 150 kg. Using this compact optical scheme, our atomic gravimeter has achieved a sensitivity of 53 μGal/Hz1/2 and a resolution of better than 1 μGal (1 μGal = 1 × 10−8 m/s2) in an integration time of 3000 s.
Low-phase-noise and pure-spectrum Raman light is vital for high-precision atom interferometry by two-photon Raman transition. A preferred and prevalent solution for Raman light generation is electro-optic phase modulation. However, phase modulation inherently brings in double sidebands, resulting in residual sideband effects of multiple laser pairs beside Raman light in atom interferometry. Based on a well-designed rectangular fiber Bragg grating and a plain electro-optic modulator, optical single-sideband modulation has been realized at 1560 nm with a stable suppression ratio better than -25 dB despite of intense temperature variations. After optical filtration and frequency doubling, a robust phase-coherent Raman light at 780 nm is generated with a stable SNR of better than -19 dB and facilitates measuring the local gravity successfully. This FBG-based all-fiber single-sideband-modulated Raman light source, proposed for the first time and characterized as robust, compact and low-priced, is practical and potential for field applications of portable atom interferometry.
A compact and robust laser system is essential for mobile atom interferometers. Phase modulation can provide the two necessary phase-coherent frequencies without sophisticated phase-locking between two different lasers. However, the additional laser frequencies generated can perturb the atom interferometer. In this article, we report on a novel method to produce a single high-power laser beam composed of two phase-coherent sidebands without the perturbing carrier mode. Light from a diode laser is phase-modulated by using a fiber-coupled electro-optic modulator driven at 3.4 GHz and passes through a Fabry-Perot cavity with a 6.8 GHz free spectral range. The cavity filters the carrier mode to leave the two first-order sidebands for the two-photon Raman transition between the two hyperfine ground states of 87 Rb. The laser beam is then fed to a single tapered amplifier, and the two sidebands are both amplified without mode competition. The phase noise is lower than that of a state-of-the-art optically phase-locked external-cavity diode laser (−135 dBrad 2 /Hz at 10 kHz) at frequencies above 10 Hz. This technique can be used in all-fiber-based laser systems for future mobile atom interferometers.
Raman pulse sequences are generally used to coherently manipulate the atomic wave packet in an atom interferometer.High power Raman beams allow more atoms join in the velocity-sensitive stimulated Raman transition,and that will be helpful for obtaining high signal to noise ratio in atom interferometer fringe.Development of high power Raman laser is important for cold atom interferometer experiments.The experimental realization of high power Raman lasers are demonstrated based on injection locking technique. Master laser is modulated by a 1.5 GHz acousto-optical modulator,and the±1 order diffraction lights are used as seeding Raman lasers.The seeding lasers are injection locked to two slave lasers which are further amplified as Raman beams.The frequency difference of Raman beams is 3.0 GHz,and the detuning range is about 200 MHz.
We present a laser system with low-phase noise and an output power up to 8.8 W at 780 nm for driving Bragg transitions in a 87Rb fountain. An optical phase-locked loop (OPLL) is employed to restrain the phase noise that arises from the spatial separation of the two Bragg beams at low frequencies. The residual phase variance is suppressed by two orders around 400 Hz. A Mach-Zehnder Bragg atom interferometer, based on the four-photon recoil scheme, has been realized using this laser system. This interferometer shows a resolution of 5×10−9g at an integration time of 1200 s for gravity measurements.