High-Resolution In-Source Spectroscopy Integrated tunable diamond Raman lasers offer vital access to the hyperfine structure of atoms, becoming essential in scalable ion-based quantum technologies. Exploiting the Raman effect, the device produces spectrally-bright tunable Stokes pulses, showcasing MHz-class resolution without active cavity stabilization (see article 2300564 by Eduardo Granados and co-workers). This study demonstrates the efficacy of these lasers as a tool for high-resolution in-source spectroscopy, paving the way for numerous applications in the fields of atomic and nuclear physics.
High-Resolution In-Source Spectroscopy Integrated tunable diamond Raman lasers offer vital access to the hyperfine structure of atoms, becoming essential in scalable ion-based quantum technologies. Exploiting the Raman effect, the device produces spectrally-bright tunable Stokes pulses, showcasing MHz-class resolution without active cavity stabilization (see article 2300564 by Eduardo Granados and co-workers). This study demonstrates the efficacy of these lasers as a tool for high-resolution in-source spectroscopy, paving the way for numerous applications in the fields of atomic and nuclear physics.
Abstract Tunable single‐frequency lasers are the most prominent tool for high‐resolution spectroscopy, allowing for the study and exploitation of the electronic structure of atoms. A significant milestone relies on the demonstration of integrated laser technology for performing such a task. The device presented here is composed of a compact Fabry–Perot monolithic resonator capable of producing tunable and Fourier‐limited nanosecond pulses with a MHz‐class frequency stability without active cavity stabilization elements. It also has the remarkable capability of exploiting the Raman effect to funnel efficiently the broad spectrum of an input laser to a spectrally‐bright Stokes pulse at hard‐to‐access wavelength ranges. The targeted atom for the demonstrations is 152Sm, released as an atomic vapor in a hot cavity environment. Here, the Stokes field is tuned to a wavelength of 433.9 nm, while a crossed‐beams spectroscopy setup is used to minimize the Doppler broadened spectral features of the atoms. With this work, the suitability of integrated diamond Raman lasers as a high‐resolution in‐source spectroscopy tool is demonstrated, enabling many applications in atomic and nuclear physics. The integrated form‐factor and inherent simplicity makes such a laser an interesting prospect for quantum‐technology based sensing systems and related applications.
Fourier-limited and tunable nanosecond pulses are essential for applications that rely on high-intensity interactions between light and atoms. These applications require precise and wide tunability across a large range of wavelengths (expanding from the UV to the near-IR). The vast interest in producing and integrating pulsed tunable narrow linewidth light is further fuelled by applications in quantum technology. The main challenge here is in the production of many (hundreds to thousands) individually tunable, narrow-band pulses simultaneously. Photonic integrated circuits (PICs) are expected to provide the scalability and simplicity required for these quantum technology-based sensing systems and applications, but there are still many obstacles to overcome. Among these are improvements in active materials, such as direct gain and laser output in the green-yellow spectral range.
Tunable single-frequency lasers are essential for high-resolution spectroscopy and quantum technologies, yet achieving narrow-linewidth performance in compact, scalable systems across the UV-visible spectrum remains a key challenge. Recent work has revealed that Raman scattering in diamond can act as a natural spectral squeezer, where phonon dynamics help suppress frequency noise and concentrates optical power into a single, narrow spectral mode. Experiments at CERN and elsewhere have demonstrated linewidth compression by orders of magnitude, frequency-noise suppression exceeding 10³-10⁴, and pathways toward Schawlow–Townes-limited performance in CW regimes. These results establish Raman phonon damping as a universal mechanism for generating ultra-coherent, widely tunable lasers, opening new opportunities in quantum metrology, optical clocks, and high-resolution spectroscopy.
Tunable single-frequency lasers are essential for high-resolution spectroscopy and quantum technologies, yet achieving narrow-linewidth performance in compact, scalable systems across the UV-visible spectrum remains a key challenge. Recent work has revealed that Raman scattering in diamond can act as a natural spectral squeezer, where phonon dynamics help suppress frequency noise and concentrates optical power into a single, narrow spectral mode. Experiments at CERN and elsewhere have demonstrated linewidth compression by orders of magnitude, frequency-noise suppression exceeding 10³-10⁴, and pathways toward Schawlow–Townes-limited performance in CW regimes. These results establish Raman phonon damping as a universal mechanism for generating ultra-coherent, widely tunable lasers, opening new opportunities in quantum metrology, optical clocks, and high-resolution spectroscopy.
Abstract Resonance scattering techniques are very useful for high-resolution atomic spectroscopy. The applicability of these techniques has been much extended, particularly through the rapid development of tunable-laser technology. The use of a narrow-band tunable laser, acting on a collimated atomic beam, gives a direct method enabling, for example, hyperfine structure and isotope shift studies. The intensity of lasers allows stepwise excitations to be performed, and with the two-photon absorption technique, Doppler-free measurements on thermal gases are also possible. By using pulsed lasers, time-resolved measurements yielding radiative life-times and structural information can be performed. The basic resonance scattering methods can be combined with radiofrequency and coherence techniques to yield a resolution, limited only by the uncertainty relation. Optical double resonance and level-crossing techniques, not requiring a narrow-band light source, have been extensively used. Several examples of the application of resonance scattering methods are given.
Narrow-bandwidth optical sources are readily available. However, tunable narrow-bandwidth, wide field-of-view optical filters are not available. The laser-pumped atomic vapor optical filters presented here are in principle tunable narrow-bandwidth, wide field-of-view optical filters. These filters can simultaneously provide high resolution (0.001 nm), wide field-of-view (±90°), high quantum efficiency, and electrically tunable optical filtering. These devices are ideally suited for extracting weak narrow-bandwidth signals buried in strong nonresonant optical background radiation. Potential applications of these fitters include laser communications, laser radar, detection of Raman radiation, and atomic spectroscopy.