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European Frequency and Time Forum

Dual Laser Frequency Stabilization for a Yb+ Single Ion Trap

Josipa Madunic, Alan Boudrias, Moustafa Abdel Hafiz, Y. Kersalé, Clément Lacroûte

Published Jun 25, 2024• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We present the frequency stabilization of 370 nm and 935 nm lasers using a coupled optical resonance method with a hollow cathode lamp. This method achieves a fractional frequency instability below 5×10−10at 1 second for both lasers, which is essential for efficient ion cooling and manipulation.
DOI
10.1109/eftf61992.2024.10722613

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We have demonstrated simultaneous laser frequency stabilization of a UV and IR laser, to coupled transitions of ions in the same spectroscopic sample, by detecting only the absorption of the UV laser. Separate signals for locking the different lasers are obtained by modulating each laser at a different frequency and using lock-in detection of a single photodiode signal. Experimentally, we simultaneously lock a 369 nm and a 935 nm laser to the (2)S(1/2) → (2)(P(1/2) and (2)D(3/2) → (3)D([3/2]1/2) transitions, respectively, of Yb(+) ions generated in a hollow cathode discharge lamp. Stabilized lasers at these frequencies are required for cooling and trapping Yb(+) ions, used in quantum information and in high precision metrology experiments. This technique should be readily applicable to other ion and neutral atom systems requiring multiple stabilized lasers.
We stabilize an ultraviolet diode laser system at 369.5 nm to the optical absorption signal from Yb+ ions in a hollow-cathode discharge lamp. The error signal for stabilization is obtained by Zeeman spectroscopy of the 3 GHz wide absorption feature. The frequency stability is independently measured by comparison to the fluorescence signal from a laser-cooled crystal of Y174b+ ions in a linear Paul trap. We measure a frequency fluctuation of 1.7 MHz over 1000 s and a frequency drift of 20 MHz over 7 days. Our method is suitable for use in quantum information processing experiments with trapped ion crystals.
We present the design of a compact optical clock based on the 2 S 1/2 → 2 D 3/2 435.5 nm transition in 171 Yb + . The ion trap will be based on a micro-fabricated circuit, with surface electrodes generating a trapping potential to localize a single Yb ion a few hundred μ m from the electrodes. We present our trap design as well as simulations of the resulting trapping pseudo-potential. We also present a compact, multi-channel wavelength meter that will permit the frequency stabilization of the cooling, repumping and clear-out lasers at 369.5 nm, 935.2 nm and 638.6 nm needed to cool the ion. We use this wavelength meter to characterize and stabilize the frequency of extended cavity diode lasers at 369.5 nm and 638.6 nm.
Optical manipulation of Ba+ ions is performed mainly by a 493 nm laser for the S1/2−P1/2 transition and a 650 nm laser for the P1/2−D3/2 transition. Because the branching ratio between the 493 and 650 nm transitions of a single Ba+ ion is comparable, stabilization systems of both lasers are equally important for Doppler cooling, sub-Doppler cooling, optical pumping, and state detection. The stabilization system of a 493 nm laser to an absolute Te2 reference has been well established. However, the stabilization of a 650 nm laser to the absolute reference of an atomic or molecular spectrum has not been presented before, to our knowledge. Here, we experimentally obtain the I2 spectrum near 650 nm and provide the experimental connection to the spectrum of Ba+. We present the 20 spectral lines of I2 in the range of 0.9 GHz above the resonance of the P1/2−D3/2 transition. We stabilize the 650 nm laser through the optical cavity to the lowest one among these lines, which is about 350 MHz apart, as the absolute frequency reference. Finally, we measure the frequency differences between these iodine lines and the Ba+ resonance through the fluorescence excitation spectrum with well-resolved dark states, which is in agreement with the theoretical expectation. The presented stabilization scheme enables us to perform precise experiments with Ba+ ions.
The171Yb+ion possesses two transitions that are applicable as references for optical frequency standards and several general features make this ion attractive: All relevant radiations for cooling and excitation can be generated from diode lasers. A nuclear spin of 1/2 ensures a simple sublevel structure. Long storage times of Yb+in ion traps are easily obtained. The2S1/2(F = 0) →2D3/2(F = 2, mF= 0) electric quadrupole transition at 436 nm with a natural linewidth of 3.1 Hz provides a quantum noise limited instability of a single-ion frequency standard of about 2 × 10-15in 1 s. The electric octupole transition2S1/2(F = 0)→2F7/2(F = 3, mF= 0) at 467 nm with a natural linewidth in the nHz range will allow to surpass that instability level. It also possesses a lower sensitivity to field-induced frequency shifts. In this system the Fourier-limited interrogation linewidth can be adapted to that of the best available laser sources, which are presently at the level below 1 Hz. Both transitions have been recommended as secondary representations of the SI second.
We describe experimental investigations of an optical frequency standard based on a single laser-cooled /sup 171/Yb/sup +/ ion confined in a radiofrequency Paul trap. The electric quadrupole transition from the /sup 2/S/sub 1/2 /(F=0) ground state to the /sup 2/D/sub 3/2/(F=2) state at 435.5 nm is used as the reference transition. The transition was resolved with a Fourier-limited width of approximately 30 Hz. In order to investigate the instability and accuracy of a future frequency standard based on the reference transition, a first experiment was done comparing two laser frequencies stabilized individually to two separate ions in different traps. As a result we found a relative frequency instability /spl sigma//sub y/(640 s)=1.5/spl middot/10/sup -15/ for the difference of the two laser frequencies. We also derived a first estimate /spl Theta/(/sup 2/D/sub 3/2/)=(3.9/spl plusmn/1.9)ea/sub 0//sup 2/ for the electric quadrupole moment of the /sup 2/D/sub 3/2/ state.