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Chinese Optics Letters

Miniature laser frequency stabilization module for cold atom sensing

Qingzhe Gou, Ning Wei, Haixu Tao, Kang Cheng, Yongtao Fan, Jiajing He, Jun Wang

Published Jan 1, 2024• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

In this study, a miniature laser frequency stabilization module for cold atom sensing applications was designed and realized.The module can lock the laser frequency to the saturated absorption spectrum of the D2 line of rubidium (Rb) atoms using the frequency modulation spectroscopy method.The module core is a tiny Rb cell, co-packaged with the saturation absorption optical setup, temperature control circuit, and detection circuit through a joint optical-mechanical-electrical design for a total volume of only 40 mm × 15 mm × 30 mm.The frequency fluctuation of the 780 nm laser after frequency stabilization by the module was within 1 MHz over 1000 s, which is adequate for magneto-optical trap experiments.The results verify the feasibility of the module as a frequency reference and provide a light source for portable cold atom sensing devices.

DOI
10.3788/col202422.101302

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In this study, a miniature laser frequency stabilization module for cold atom sensing applications was designed and realized.The module can lock the laser frequency to the saturated absorption spectrum of the D2 line of rubidium (Rb) atoms using the frequency modulation spectroscopy method.The module core is a tiny Rb cell, co-packaged with the saturation absorption optical setup, temperature control circuit, and detection circuit through a joint optical-mechanical-electrical design for a total volume of only 40 mm × 15 mm × 30 mm.The frequency fluctuation of the 780 nm laser after frequency stabilization by the module was within 1 MHz over 1000 s, which is adequate for magneto-optical trap experiments.The results verify the feasibility of the module as a frequency reference and provide a light source for portable cold atom sensing devices.
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This study investigates the application of miniature quantum references within small-scale optical atomic frequency standards, utilizing a diminutive 87 Rb glass cell, dimensions of 6 mm × 6 mm × 6 mm, to establish a quantum frequency standard.By employing the transition spectrum from 5 2 S 1/2 F = 2 to 5 2 P 3/2 F 0 =3, this study successfully demonstrates the development of a compact rubidium atomic optical frequency standard via modulation transfer spectroscopy (MTS).Subsequent to frequency stabilization, the 780 nm clock laser exhibits a linewidth of 6.9 kHz, and its out-of-loop short-term stability reaches 4.1 × 10 -13 @ 1 s, as confirmed through beat frequency analysis.This research not only provides a practical blueprint for the development of small optical atomic frequency standards but also lays down essential groundwork for future advancements in chip-level optical frequency standard technologies.
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We present the development and complete spectral characterization of our compact and frequency-stabilized laser heads, to be used for rubidium atomic clocks and basic spectroscopy. The light source is a Distributed Feed-Back (DFB) laser diode emitting at 780 nm or 795 nm. The laser frequency is stabilized on a sub-Doppler absorption peak of the 87Rb atom, obtained from an evacuated rubidium cell. These laser heads, including the electronics for the light signals detection, have an overall volume of 0.63 liters. We also present a variant of the laser head into which is integrated an Acousto-Optical Modulator (AOM) that precisely detunes the laser frequency in order to minimize the AC Stark shift in Rb atomic clocks.