Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Physical Review Applied

Coherent Population Trapping with High Common-Mode Noise Rejection Using Differential Detection of Simultaneous Dark and Bright Resonances

Peter Yun, Rodolphe Boudot, Emeric de Clercq

Published Feb 3, 2023• 15 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Coherent manipulation of atomic states is highly desirable in numerous applications spanning from fundamental physics to metrology. In this study, we propose and demonstrate, theoretically and experimentally, the simultaneous observation in a vapor cell of dark and bright resonances that provide, through a differential-detection stage, an output coherent-population-trapping atomic resonance that benefits from a doubled amplitude and high common-mode noise rejection. This advanced spectroscopic scheme might be of interest for the development of high-performance vapor-cell atomic clocks, sensors, or high-resolution spectroscopy experiments.

DOI
10.1103/physrevapplied.19.024012

Related papers

A Novel Scheme for Noise Suppression of CPT Resonance

Qinglin Li, Tenghui Yang, Peter Yun

We proposed and demonstrated a continuous wave (CW) version of constructive, destructive & differential detection (CDD) of coherent population trapping resonance (CPT), in which we simultaneously observed electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) and absorption (EIA) resonances with counterpropagating pump and probe bichromatic light beams. A differential CPT signal is also obtained with doubled amplitude and suppressed common-mode noise. The enhanced signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of CPT resonance with one order of magnitude in this novel scheme could beneficial to implement high-performance CPT atomic clocks, as well as atomic sensors, and high-resolution spectroscopy.

Joint Conference of the European Frequency and Time Forum and IEEE International Frequency Control Symposium (EFTF/IFCS)•May 15, 2023•0 citations

Constructive, Destructive and Differential Detection of Coherent Population Trapping Resonance

Peter Yun, Tenghui Yang, Rodolphe Boudot +1 more

SummaryWe propose and demonstrate constructive, destructive and differential detection of coherent population trapping resonance (CDD CPT), in which a CPT dark state is constructively and destructively detected by a bi-chromatic light field with proper polarization and timing setting. Electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) and electromagnetically induced absorption (EIA) resonances are simultaneously observed in a vapor cell. A differential-CPT (diff-CPT) signal, with doubled amplitude and suppression of common-mode noise of light and of the atomic ensemble, is then obtained by subtracting EIT and EIA resonances. This approach might be of great interest for the development of high-performance atomic clocks, sensors, or high-resolution spectroscopy.

Joint Conference of the European Frequency and Time Forum and IEEE International Frequency Control Symposium (EFTF/IFCS)•May 15, 2023•1 citation

Full differential spectroscopy for high-stability vapor cell optical frequency reference

Tenghui Yang, Peter Yun, Rodolphe Boudot +3 more

We propose and experimentally demonstrate a spectroscopic method, named full differential spectroscopy, that uses a single laser beam in retroreflected configuration to manipulate atomic dark states in a vapor cell. Conventional Doppler-free spectroscopy often suffers from limited performance due to the Doppler-broaden background. Here we show that by selectively coupling or decoupling the probe’s polarization components with the pump-induced dark state, we can simultaneously obtain both Doppler-free electromagnetically induced transparency and absorption. A differential signal, with enhanced Doppler-free amplitude and highly suppressed background and noise, is thus obtained. We systematically characterize how polarization angle and light power affect the resonance and noise properties. Using this approach, we stabilize a laser to a rubidium vapor cell, achieving a fractional frequency stability of 1.2 × 10 −13 at 1 s. These results demonstrate a simple, robust route to high-performance optical frequency references and may also benefit quantum sensing or high-resolution spectroscopy.

Communications Physics•Sep 23, 2026•0 citations

Reduction of optical field noise by differential detection in atomic clocks based on coherent population trapping

Vladislav P. Gerginov, Svenja A. Knappe, Vishal Shah +2 more

We present preliminary results showing that some noise sources in vapor cell atomic clocks based on coherent population trapping (CPT) can be suppressed with differential detection. The scheme we propose differs from more conventional differential detection in that both optical fields pass through the alkali vapor cell but have different polarizations, one circular and one linear. Because CPT resonances are only excited by the circularly polarized beam, the linearly polarized beam can be used to reduce several important sources of noise. With this technique, we demonstrate reduction of the short-term frequency instability of a CPT atomic frequency reference by a factor of about 1.5.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•Mar 2, 2007•1 citation

Analytical Expressions of the Dark Resonance Parameters in a Vacuum Vapor Cell

Denis V. Brazhnikov, Grégoire Coget, Moustafa Abdel Hafiz +3 more

This paper reports a dedicated theoretical and experimental study on the properties (signal amplitude and linewidth) of coherent population trapping resonances detected in vacuum vapor cells. Results are presented for conventional single-lambda schemes of atomic energy levels but also for double-lambda schemes, now widely used in various applications including atomic clocks and magnetometers. Approximate compact analytical expressions, valid for a wide range of light-wave intensities, i.e., beyond the low intensities or pump-probe regime, have been obtained. Analytical results are found to be in excellent agreement with exact numerical solutions based on the optical Bloch equations. Experimental results, obtained in a Cs vapor microfabricated cell, are reported and found to be in correct agreement with theoretical expressions.

IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control•Mar 1, 2018•2 citations

Feasibility toward a compact high performance coherent population trapping clock

Peter Yun, François Tricot, Emeric de Clercq +4 more

We demonstrate a vapor-cell atomic-clock prototype based on a continuous-wave interrogation and double-modulation coherent population trapping (DM-CPT) technique. The DM-CPT technique uses a synchronous modulation of polarization and the relative phase of a bichromatic laser beam in order to increase the number of atoms trapped in a dark state, i.e., a nonabsorbing state. The narrow resonance, observed in the transmission of a Cs vapor cell, is used as a narrow frequency discriminator in an atomic clock. A detailed characterization of the CPT resonance versus numerous parameters is reported. A short-term fractional-frequency stability of 3.2×10−13τ−1/2 up to a 100-s averaging time is measured. These performances are more than one order of magnitude better than industrial Rb clocks and are comparable to those of the best laboratory-prototype vapor-cell clocks. The noise-budget analysis shows that the short- and midterm frequency stability is mainly limited by the power fluctuations of the microwave used to generate the bichromatic laser. These preliminary results demonstrate that the DM-CPT technique is well suited for the development of a high-performance atomic clock, with the potential compact and robust setup due to its linear architecture. This clock could find future applications in industry, telecommunications, instrumentation, or global navigation satellite systems.

•Apr 14, 2019•0 citations
Coherent manipulation of atomic states is highly desirable in numerous applications spanning from fundamental physics to metrology. In this study, we propose and demonstrate, theoretically and experimentally, the simultaneous observation in a vapor cell of dark and bright resonances that provide, through a differential-detection stage, an output coherent-population-trapping atomic resonance that benefits from a doubled amplitude and high common-mode noise rejection. This advanced spectroscopic scheme might be of interest for the development of high-performance vapor-cell atomic clocks, sensors, or high-resolution spectroscopy experiments.
We proposed and demonstrated a continuous wave (CW) version of constructive, destructive & differential detection (CDD) of coherent population trapping resonance (CPT), in which we simultaneously observed electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) and absorption (EIA) resonances with counterpropagating pump and probe bichromatic light beams. A differential CPT signal is also obtained with doubled amplitude and suppressed common-mode noise. The enhanced signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of CPT resonance with one order of magnitude in this novel scheme could beneficial to implement high-performance CPT atomic clocks, as well as atomic sensors, and high-resolution spectroscopy.
SummaryWe propose and demonstrate constructive, destructive and differential detection of coherent population trapping resonance (CDD CPT), in which a CPT dark state is constructively and destructively detected by a bi-chromatic light field with proper polarization and timing setting. Electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) and electromagnetically induced absorption (EIA) resonances are simultaneously observed in a vapor cell. A differential-CPT (diff-CPT) signal, with doubled amplitude and suppression of common-mode noise of light and of the atomic ensemble, is then obtained by subtracting EIT and EIA resonances. This approach might be of great interest for the development of high-performance atomic clocks, sensors, or high-resolution spectroscopy.
We propose and experimentally demonstrate a spectroscopic method, named full differential spectroscopy, that uses a single laser beam in retroreflected configuration to manipulate atomic dark states in a vapor cell. Conventional Doppler-free spectroscopy often suffers from limited performance due to the Doppler-broaden background. Here we show that by selectively coupling or decoupling the probe’s polarization components with the pump-induced dark state, we can simultaneously obtain both Doppler-free electromagnetically induced transparency and absorption. A differential signal, with enhanced Doppler-free amplitude and highly suppressed background and noise, is thus obtained. We systematically characterize how polarization angle and light power affect the resonance and noise properties. Using this approach, we stabilize a laser to a rubidium vapor cell, achieving a fractional frequency stability of 1.2 × 10 −13 at 1 s. These results demonstrate a simple, robust route to high-performance optical frequency references and may also benefit quantum sensing or high-resolution spectroscopy.
We present preliminary results showing that some noise sources in vapor cell atomic clocks based on coherent population trapping (CPT) can be suppressed with differential detection. The scheme we propose differs from more conventional differential detection in that both optical fields pass through the alkali vapor cell but have different polarizations, one circular and one linear. Because CPT resonances are only excited by the circularly polarized beam, the linearly polarized beam can be used to reduce several important sources of noise. With this technique, we demonstrate reduction of the short-term frequency instability of a CPT atomic frequency reference by a factor of about 1.5.
This paper reports a dedicated theoretical and experimental study on the properties (signal amplitude and linewidth) of coherent population trapping resonances detected in vacuum vapor cells. Results are presented for conventional single-lambda schemes of atomic energy levels but also for double-lambda schemes, now widely used in various applications including atomic clocks and magnetometers. Approximate compact analytical expressions, valid for a wide range of light-wave intensities, i.e., beyond the low intensities or pump-probe regime, have been obtained. Analytical results are found to be in excellent agreement with exact numerical solutions based on the optical Bloch equations. Experimental results, obtained in a Cs vapor microfabricated cell, are reported and found to be in correct agreement with theoretical expressions.
We demonstrate a vapor-cell atomic-clock prototype based on a continuous-wave interrogation and double-modulation coherent population trapping (DM-CPT) technique. The DM-CPT technique uses a synchronous modulation of polarization and the relative phase of a bichromatic laser beam in order to increase the number of atoms trapped in a dark state, i.e., a nonabsorbing state. The narrow resonance, observed in the transmission of a Cs vapor cell, is used as a narrow frequency discriminator in an atomic clock. A detailed characterization of the CPT resonance versus numerous parameters is reported. A short-term fractional-frequency stability of 3.2×10−13τ−1/2 up to a 100-s averaging time is measured. These performances are more than one order of magnitude better than industrial Rb clocks and are comparable to those of the best laboratory-prototype vapor-cell clocks. The noise-budget analysis shows that the short- and midterm frequency stability is mainly limited by the power fluctuations of the microwave used to generate the bichromatic laser. These preliminary results demonstrate that the DM-CPT technique is well suited for the development of a high-performance atomic clock, with the potential compact and robust setup due to its linear architecture. This clock could find future applications in industry, telecommunications, instrumentation, or global navigation satellite systems.