Superradiant lasers operate in the bad-cavity regime, where the phase coherence is stored in the spin state of an atomic medium rather than in the intracavity electric field. Such lasers use collective effects to sustain lasing and could potentially reach considerably lower linewidths than a conventional laser. Here, we investigate the properties of superradiant lasing in an ensemble of ultracold $^{88}$ Sr atoms inside an optical cavity. We extend the superradiant emission on the 7.5 kHz wide $^3P_1$ $\rightarrow$ $^1S_0$ intercombination line to several milliseconds, and observe steady parameters suitable for emulating the performance of a continuous superradiant laser by fine tuning the repumping rates. We reach a lasing linewidth of 820 Hz for 1.1 ms of lasing, nearly an order of magnitude lower than the natural linewidthSuperradiant lasers operate in the bad-cavity regime, where the phase coherence is stored in the spin state of an atomic medium rather than in the intracavity electric field. Such lasers use collective effects to sustain lasing and could potentially reach considerably lower linewidths than a conventional laser. Here, we investigate the properties of superradiant lasing in an ensemble of ultracold $^{88}$Sr atoms inside an optical cavity. We extend the superradiant emission on the 7.5 kHz wide $^3P_1$ $\rightarrow$ $^1S_0$ intercombination line to several milliseconds, and observe steady parameters suitable for emulating the performance of a continuous superradiant laser by fine tuning the repumping rates. We reach a lasing linewidth of 820 Hz for 1.1 ms of lasing, nearly an order of magnitude lower than the natural linewidth

arXiv:2302.08977Feb 17, 20230 citations

Cold-Strontium Laser in the Superradiant Crossover Regime

Matthew A. Norcia, James K. Thompson

Today's narrowest linewidth lasers are limited by mirror motion in the reference optical resonator used to stabilize the laser's frequency.Recent proposals suggest that superradiant lasers based on narrow dipoleforbidden transitions in cold alkaline earth atoms could offer a way around this limitation.Such lasers operating on transitions with linewidth of order mHz are predicted to achieve output spectra orders of magnitude narrower than any currently existing laser.As a step towards this goal, we demonstrate and study a laser based on the 7.5-kHz linewidth dipole-forbidden 3 P 1 to 1 S 0 transition in laser-cooled and tightly confined 88 Sr.We can operate this laser in the bad-cavity or superradiant regime, where coherence is primarily stored in the atoms, or continuously tune to the more conventional good-cavity regime, where coherence is primarily stored in the light field.We show that the cold-atom gain medium can be repumped to achieve quasi-steady-state lasing.We also demonstrate up to an order of magnitude suppression in the sensitivity of laser frequency to changes in cavity length, verifying a key feature of the proposed narrow linewidth lasers.Today's narrowest linewidth lasers are limited by mirror motion in the reference optical resonator used to stabilize the laser's frequency.Recent proposals suggest that superradiant lasers based on narrow dipoleforbidden transitions in cold alkaline earth atoms could offer a way around this limitation.Such lasers operating on transitions with linewidth of order mHz are predicted to achieve output spectra orders of magnitude narrower than any currently existing laser.As a step towards this goal, we demonstrate and study a laser based on the 7.5-kHz linewidth dipole-forbidden 3 P 1 to 1 S 0 transition in laser-cooled and tightly confined 88 Sr.We can operate this laser in the bad-cavity or superradiant regime, where coherence is primarily stored in the atoms, or continuously tune to the more conventional good-cavity regime, where coherence is primarily stored in the light field.We show that the cold-atom gain medium can be repumped to achieve quasi-steady-state lasing.We also demonstrate up to an order of magnitude suppression in the sensitivity of laser frequency to changes in cavity length, verifying a key feature of the proposed narrow linewidth lasers.

arXiv:1510.06733Physical Review XMar 9, 2016115 citations

Phase synchronization inside a superradiant laser

Joshua M. Weiner, Kevin C. Cox, Justin Bohnet +1 more

Superradiant lasers may soon achieve state-of-the-art frequency purity, with linewidths of 1 mHz or less. In a superradiant (or bad-cavity) laser, coherence is primarily stored in the atomic gain medium instead of the optical field. This phase storage is characterized by spontaneous quantum synchronization of the optical dipole moments of each atom. To observe this synchronization, we create two independent superradiant atomic ensembles lasing in a single optical cavity and observe the dynamics of phase realignment, collective power enhancement, and steady-state frequency locking. This work introduces superradiant ensembles as a testbed for fundamental study of quantum synchronization as well and informs research on narrow linewidth superradiant lasers.Superradiant lasers may soon achieve state-of-the-art frequency purity, with linewidths of 1 mHz or less. In a superradiant (or bad-cavity) laser, coherence is primarily stored in the atomic gain medium instead of the optical field. This phase storage is characterized by spontaneous quantum synchronization of the optical dipole moments of each atom. To observe this synchronization, we create two independent superradiant atomic ensembles lasing in a single optical cavity and observe the dynamics of phase realignment, collective power enhancement, and steady-state frequency locking. This work introduces superradiant ensembles as a testbed for fundamental study of quantum synchronization as well and informs research on narrow linewidth superradiant lasers.

arXiv:1503.06464Physical Review AMar 9, 201747 citations

Lasing in the superradiant crossover regime

Kamanasish Debnath, Yuan Zhang, Klaus Mølmer

A new class of laser, which harnesses coherence in both light and atoms, is possible with ultracold alkaline-earth-metal atoms trapped in an optical lattice inside an optical cavity. Different lasing regimes, including superradiance, superradiant, and conventional lasing, are distinguished by the relative coherence stored in the atoms and in the cavity mode. We analyze the physics in two different experimentally achievable regions of the superradiant lasing regime. Our calculations confirm the narrow linewidth of superradiant lasing for the doubly forbidden clock transition ${}^{3}{P}_{0}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{}^{1}{S}_{0}$ of $^{87}\mathrm{Sr}$ atoms. Under strong driving of the dipole-forbidden transition ${}^{3}{P}_{1}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{}^{1}{S}_{0}$ of $^{88}\mathrm{Sr}$ atoms, the superradiant linewidth narrows further due to the coherent excitation of the cavity field.A new class of laser, which harnesses coherence in both light and atoms, is possible with ultracold alkaline-earth-metal atoms trapped in an optical lattice inside an optical cavity. Different lasing regimes, including superradiance, superradiant, and conventional lasing, are distinguished by the relative coherence stored in the atoms and in the cavity mode. We analyze the physics in two different experimentally achievable regions of the superradiant lasing regime. Our calculations confirm the narrow linewidth of superradiant lasing for the doubly forbidden clock transition ${}^{3}{P}_{0}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{}^{1}{S}_{0}$ of $^{87}\mathrm{Sr}$ atoms. Under strong driving of the dipole-forbidden transition ${}^{3}{P}_{1}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{}^{1}{S}_{0}$ of $^{88}\mathrm{Sr}$ atoms, the superradiant linewidth narrows further due to the coherent excitation of the cavity field.

arXiv:1809.01602Physical Review ADec 26, 201865 citations

Exceptional Point Superradiant Lasing with Ultranarrow Linewidth

Min Du, Qian Bin, Qing-Yang Qiu +2 more

Achieving superradiant lasing with an ultranarrow linewidth is crucial for enhancing atomic clock stability in quantum precision measurement. By employing the exceptional point (EP) property of the system, we demonstrate theoretically superradiant lasing with linewidths in the $μ$ Hz range, sustained at the high-power level. This is achieved by incoherently pumping optical lattice clock transitions with ultracold alkaline-earth strontium-87 atoms in the EP of a $\mathcal{PT}$ -symmetric system. Physically, the atomic coherence reaches a maximum in the EP, significantly amplifying the superradiance effect and resulting in superradiant lasing with an ultranarrow linewidth. This linewidth is even three orders of magnitude smaller than that of superradiant lasing in the systems without EP. Our work extends the realm of superradiant lasing by introducing the EP property, and offers promising applications for developing atomic clocks with exceptional stability and accuracy.Achieving superradiant lasing with an ultranarrow linewidth is crucial for enhancing atomic clock stability in quantum precision measurement. By employing the exceptional point (EP) property of the system, we demonstrate theoretically superradiant lasing with linewidths in the $μ$Hz range, sustained at the high-power level. This is achieved by incoherently pumping optical lattice clock transitions with ultracold alkaline-earth strontium-87 atoms in the EP of a $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric system. Physically, the atomic coherence reaches a maximum in the EP, significantly amplifying the superradiance effect and resulting in superradiant lasing with an ultranarrow linewidth. This linewidth is even three orders of magnitude smaller than that of superradiant lasing in the systems without EP. Our work extends the realm of superradiant lasing by introducing the EP property, and offers promising applications for developing atomic clocks with exceptional stability and accuracy.

quant-pharXiv:2602.19030Physical Review LettersFeb 24, 20262 citations

A quasi-continuous superradiant Raman laser with < 1 intracavity photon

Justin Bohnet, Zilong Chen, Joshua M. Weiner +4 more

Steady-state collective emission from ensembles of laser cooled atoms has been proposed as a method for generating sub-millihertz linewidth optical lasers, with potential for broad impacts across science and technology. We have built a model system that tests key predictions for such active oscillators using a Raman laser with laser cooled atoms as the gain medium. The laser operates deep in the bad-cavity, or superradiant, regime of laser physics, where the cavity decay rate is much greater than the atomic coherence decay rate. Specifically, we demonstrate that a system of 106 87Rb atoms trapped in a 1D standing wave optical lattice can spontaneously synchronize and collectively emit a quasi-continuous coherent optical output, even when the intracavity field contains on average < 1 photon.Steady-state collective emission from ensembles of laser cooled atoms has been proposed as a method for generating sub-millihertz linewidth optical lasers, with potential for broad impacts across science and technology. We have built a model system that tests key predictions for such active oscillators using a Raman laser with laser cooled atoms as the gain medium. The laser operates deep in the bad-cavity, or superradiant, regime of laser physics, where the cavity decay rate is much greater than the atomic coherence decay rate. Specifically, we demonstrate that a system of 106 87Rb atoms trapped in a 1D standing wave optical lattice can spontaneously synchronize and collectively emit a quasi-continuous coherent optical output, even when the intracavity field contains on average < 1 photon.

EPJ Web of ConferencesJan 1, 20135 citations

Sub-Natural Linewidth Superradiant Lasing with Cold

^{88}

Sr Atoms

^{88}

Sr atoms inside an optical cavity. We extend the superradiant emission on the 7.5 kHz wide

^3P_1

\rightarrow

^1S_0

intercombination line to several milliseconds, and observe steady parameters suitable for emulating the performance of a continuous superradiant laser by fine tuning the repumping rates. We reach a lasing linewidth of 820 Hz for 1.1 ms of lasing, nearly an order of magnitude lower than the natural linewidth

^{87}\mathrm{Sr}

atoms. Under strong driving of the dipole-forbidden transition ${}^{3}{P}_{1}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{}^{1}{S}_{0}$ of

^{88}\mathrm{Sr}

atoms, the superradiant linewidth narrows further due to the coherent excitation of the cavity field.

μ

Hz range, sustained at the high-power level. This is achieved by incoherently pumping optical lattice clock transitions with ultracold alkaline-earth strontium-87 atoms in the EP of a

\mathcal{PT}

-symmetric system. Physically, the atomic coherence reaches a maximum in the EP, significantly amplifying the superradiance effect and resulting in superradiant lasing with an ultranarrow linewidth. This linewidth is even three orders of magnitude smaller than that of superradiant lasing in the systems without EP. Our work extends the realm of superradiant lasing by introducing the EP property, and offers promising applications for developing atomic clocks with exceptional stability and accuracy.