Optical and Quantum Sensing and Precision Metrology II

Towards an atom interferometer using ultracold atomic sources of cadmium and strontium

Satvika Bandarupally

Published Mar 9, 2022• 0 citations

Abstract

Atom interferometers with their extremely high sensitivity to inertial forces are an excellent method for investigating and understanding gravity and its gradients. Studying gravity using quantum mechanical test sources, such as ultra-cold atoms, is an exciting choice for probing physics at this intersection. Here work is presented towards the realization of novel atom interferometers based upon Cd and Sr atoms, which posses a common electronic structure with two valence electrons, also providing access to narrow linewidth intercombination transitions. For these experiments, a novel, high-power, tunable, narrow-linewidth VECSEL source has been developed, which acts as a master source to produce continuous light at either 461 nm or 229 nm, corresponding to the cooling transitions in Sr and Cd atoms, respectively. The laser systems for accessing the clock transition and also the inter-combination transition have also been implemented. The current design of the vacuuum chamber is presented, which involves the transfer of the prepared ultracold atomic clouds from preparatory chambers to a science chamber. Towards this, we have also simulated the generation of a cold atomic source of Cd, which is a key component in producing a high sensitivity atom interferometer.

DOI: 10.1117/12.2627062

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