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Institute of Physics eBooks

Other applications of laser cooling and trapping

Richard A. Dunlap

Published May 1, 2023• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The final chapter of this book considers some applications of ultracold atoms in addition to the study of Bose–Einstein condensates. These applications focus largely on the use of ultracold atoms for the purpose of constructing a highly accurate atomic clock. These clocks include atomic fountain clocks, which are presently used for the definition of the second. These clocks operate at microwave frequencies by observing the transitions between hyperfine split atomic ground states. More recent developments in atomic clocks utilize optical transitions between the ground state and an excited atomic state and typically utilize atoms trapped in an optical lattice.

DOI
10.1088/978-0-7503-5482-0ch9

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The work described in this thesis was done at the Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica (I.N.Ri.M.), in the optic division, within the Ph.D. of Metrology of the Politecnico di Torino. My work consisted in developing a new generation optical frequency standard based on Ytterbium atoms: the goal of this project is to realize a clock whose performance overcomes the ones of the standard which actually realizes the Second, the atomic Cesium fountain. This means realizes an apparatus which shows stability and accuracy better then the fountain ones: a possible way adopted in several new generation clock is using optical transitions, because they offer an higher quality factor of the clock transition itself, which means a better stability and the possibility to reach the 10^-17 level in the global accuracy of the clock. The fundamental idea of a clock is to realize as close as possible the basic idea under the actual definition of the Second, that is to fix the unit if time with a particular atomic transition, when the atom is completely unperturbed. Accomplishing this prescription means a lot of work in cooling down the atoms until the 10^-6 K regime using laser cooling techniques, developing a trap where atoms can be excited by the clock laser (the optical lattice) and of course a very careful frequency and amplitude stabilization of the clock laser itself is needed to reach our goal. The work described in this thesis regards the development of the two cooling stages of the Yb atoms and it is presented as follows. Chapter 1 explains with more details why an optical clock is needed to improve the accuracy of the actual realization of the Second, then describing the theoretical framework in which the clock will be developed. Chapter 2 contains a description of the experimental apparatus used, with more attention on the instrumentation related to the laser cooling of the atoms. Chapter 3 is about the characterization of the first cooling stage, both in a static and in a dynamic way, with some attention on the theoretical model developed to perform both the characterizations. Chapter 4 focuses on the development of the second cooling stage and it describes the actual state of the art of this stage

•Jan 1, 2012•0 citations
The final chapter of this book considers some applications of ultracold atoms in addition to the study of Bose–Einstein condensates. These applications focus largely on the use of ultracold atoms for the purpose of constructing a highly accurate atomic clock. These clocks include atomic fountain clocks, which are presently used for the definition of the second. These clocks operate at microwave frequencies by observing the transitions between hyperfine split atomic ground states. More recent developments in atomic clocks utilize optical transitions between the ground state and an excited atomic state and typically utilize atoms trapped in an optical lattice.
This Second Edition describes the basic design and operation of a variety of types of lasers. It overviews some of the traditional applications of lasers, such as laser printers and laser machining. It also describes an unconventional application of lasers: the cooling and confinement of atoms at very low temperature. Ultracold atoms have a number of possible applications that include study of Bose–Einstein condensates. The book reviews traditional Bose–Einstein condensate experiments, as well as zero-gravity experiments and experiments on quasiparticle condensates. Other applications of ultracold atoms include highly accurate atomic clocks, and their use as a time standard. This research and reference text is aimed at science and engineering professionals as well as upper level undergraduate and graduate physics students. Part of IOP Series in Coherent Sources, Quantum Fundamentals, and Applications. Key features • Provides an overview of the basic principles of lasers and reviews typology and operation. • Summarizes the important applications of lasers. • Covers the basic theory behind Bose–Einstein condensates in an accessible format. • Summarizes historical and recent results of Bose-Einstein condensate experiments.
Experimental techniques of laser cooling and trapping, along with other cooling techniques, have produced gaseous samples of atoms so cold that they are, for many practical purposes, in the quantum ground state of their centre-of-mass motion. Such low velocities have virtually eliminated effects such as Doppler shifts, relativistic time dilation and observation-time broadening that previously limited the performance of atomic frequency standards. Today, the best laser-cooled, caesium atomic fountain, microwave frequency standards realize the International System of Units (SI) definition of the second to a relative accuracy of ≈3×10(-16). Optical frequency standards, which do not realize the SI second, have even better performance: cold neutral atoms trapped in optical lattices now yield relative systematic uncertainties of ≈1×10(-16), whereas cold-trapped ions have systematic uncertainties of 9×10(-18). We will discuss the current limitations in the performance of neutral atom atomic frequency standards and prospects for the future.
8half a century ago and have provided the definition of the second since 1967. The international atomic time (TAI) is currently kept by an ensemble of Cs clocks with a fractional uncertainty of Δν/ν0 ≈ 10 –15 , and some Cs fountain clocks 9,10 operate at even smaller uncertainties. Although Cs atomic clocks operate at the microwave transition of ν0 ≈ 9.2 GHz, using optical transition frequencies of several hundred terahertz should improve the fractional uncertainty Δν/ν0 by 4–5 orders of magnitude, as most measurement uncertainties Δν are independent of ν0 (except the Doppler shift Δ νD = (v/c)ν0, where v is the atomic velocity and c is the speed of light). The invention of the laser and the subsequent improvement of laser frequency stabilities 11 has allowed the realization of optical clocks to become a reality 2,3,12
This conclusion presents some closing remarks on the concepts discussed in the book. Nowadays by using the mechanical forces exerted on atoms by light it is possible to achieve both cooling and trapping of atoms. The minimum temperature of atoms in laser cooling experiment and maximum density of atoms in the atomic traps permit to orient the latest research works towards ambitious goals as a realization of Bose-Einstein condensation of cold atoms, atomic interferometry, improvement of atomic clock. Another interesting possibility of using light pressure forces is the development of a new kind of optics — the optics of neutral atomic beams. This book has discussed a number of recent experiments which have demonstrated the possibility to develop several elements of this optics: atom optics with laser light. .
Abstract In previous chapters we have seen how laser spectroscopy gives Doppler free spectra and also how other older techniques of radio-frequency and microwave spectroscopy can resolve small splittings, e.g. hyperfine structure. These methods just observe the atoms as they go past, but this chapter describes the experimental techniques that use the force exerted by laser light to slow the atomic motion and manipulate atoms. These techniques have become extremely important in atomic physics and have many applications, e.g. they have greatly improved the stability of the caesium atomic clocks that are used as primary standards of time around the world.
The work described in this thesis was done at the Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica (I.N.Ri.M.), in the optic division, within the Ph.D. of Metrology of the Politecnico di Torino. My work consisted in developing a new generation optical frequency standard based on Ytterbium atoms: the goal of this project is to realize a clock whose performance overcomes the ones of the standard which actually realizes the Second, the atomic Cesium fountain. This means realizes an apparatus which shows stability and accuracy better then the fountain ones: a possible way adopted in several new generation clock is using optical transitions, because they offer an higher quality factor of the clock transition itself, which means a better stability and the possibility to reach the 10^-17 level in the global accuracy of the clock. The fundamental idea of a clock is to realize as close as possible the basic idea under the actual definition of the Second, that is to fix the unit if time with a particular atomic transition, when the atom is completely unperturbed. Accomplishing this prescription means a lot of work in cooling down the atoms until the 10^-6 K regime using laser cooling techniques, developing a trap where atoms can be excited by the clock laser (the optical lattice) and of course a very careful frequency and amplitude stabilization of the clock laser itself is needed to reach our goal. The work described in this thesis regards the development of the two cooling stages of the Yb atoms and it is presented as follows. Chapter 1 explains with more details why an optical clock is needed to improve the accuracy of the actual realization of the Second, then describing the theoretical framework in which the clock will be developed. Chapter 2 contains a description of the experimental apparatus used, with more attention on the instrumentation related to the laser cooling of the atoms. Chapter 3 is about the characterization of the first cooling stage, both in a static and in a dynamic way, with some attention on the theoretical model developed to perform both the characterizations. Chapter 4 focuses on the development of the second cooling stage and it describes the actual state of the art of this stage