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Optics & Laser Technology

Laser stabilization via absorption spectroscopy and active temperature feedback for chip-scale atomic magnetometer

Peng Zhou, Feilong Xu, Zihua Liang, Jinsheng Hu, Lu Liu, Gen Hu, Gaopu Hou, Yuting Xu, Mao Ye

Published Nov 17, 2025• 1 citation
Publisher
DOI
10.1016/j.optlastec.2025.114250

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We investigate the architecture of microfabricated vapor cells with reflective sidewalls for applications in chip scale atomic sensors. The optical configuration in operation is suitable for both one-beam and two-beam (pump & probe) schemes. In the miniaturized vapor cells, the laser beam is reflected twice by the aluminum reflectors on the wet etched 54.7° sidewalls to prolong the optical length significantly, thus resulting in a return reflectance that is three times that of bare silicon sidewalls. To avoid limitations faced in the fabrication process, a simpler, more universal and less constrained fabrication process of microfabricated vapor cells for chip scale atomic sensors with uncompromised performance is implemented, which also decreases the fabrication costs and procedures. Characterization measurements show that with effective sidewall reflectors, mm³ level volume and feasible hermeticity, the elongated miniature vapor cells demonstrate a linear absorption contrast improvement by 10 times over the conventional micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) vapor cells at ~50 °C in the rubidium D1 absorption spectroscopy experiments. At the operating temperature of ~90 °C for chip scale atomic sensors, a 50% linear absorption contrast enhancement is obtained with the reflective cell architecture. This leads to a potential improvement in the clock stability and magnetometer sensitivity. Besides, the coherent population trapping spectroscopy is applied to characterize the microfabricated vacuum cells with 46.3 kHz linewidth in the through cell configuration, demonstrating the effectiveness in chip scale atomic sensors.
The integration of nanophotonic optical phased arrays (OPA) with alkali vapor cells has the potential to enhance the performance of chip-scale atomic systems by enabling novel methods for beam shaping and active alignment in atomic spectroscopy. In this work, we present the first demonstration of an OPA used for precision saturated absorption spectroscopy with a rubidium vapor cell integrated directly on the chip. The OPA, consisting of 64 emitters, expands a sub-micron waveguide mode into a >100 µm diameter free-space beam, optimized for the D2 absorption line of rubidium. We resolved the sub-Doppler hyperfine splittings in both 85Rb and 87Rb isotopes, achieving Lorentzian linewidths ranging from 25 to 40 MHz suitable for stabilizing the cooling lasers in rubidium cold atom systems.
Precise laser stabilization is a fundamental aspect of modern metrology, directly influencing the accuracy of fundamental measurements in fields such as high-precision metrology, atomic sensor applications, and quantum technologies. Saturation absorption spectroscopy (SAS) is one of the most effective techniques for achieving high spectral stability, as it enables laser frequencies to be locked to atomic resonances. This technique exploits the nonlinear interaction between a weaker probe beam and a stronger pump beam within a rubidium (Rb) atomic vapor cell. By eliminating Doppler broadening, SAS allows well-defined hyperfine transitions to be resolved, providing a reliable optical frequency reference. This study aims to optimize laser frequency stabilization using the SAS technique by investigating the effects of laser light polarization, atomic vapor cell temperature, and pump-probe power adjustments. Polarization-dependent selection rules influence transition probabilities, thereby affecting spectral contrast and frequency stability. Additionally, atomic density variations, which depend on the vapor cell temperature, influence signal strength and linewidth, necessitating precise temperature control for optimal performance. Furthermore, the pump power must be sufficient to induce saturation without excessive power broadening, while the probe power must remain low enough to prevent spectral line distortion. By optimizing polarization, temperature, and power parameters, the stabilization of the Rb atomic laser can be enhanced, leading to improved reproducibility and consistency in high-precision measurements. SAS-based laser stabilization is particularly crucial for atomic sensor applications and quantum technologies, where highly stable, narrow-linewidth lasers are essential for precision measurements. Applications such as atomic magnetometers, gyroscopes, and inertial navigation systems depend on precisely stabilized lasers for optimal performance. By enhancing the reliability of laser frequency stabilization, this work contributes to the advancement of next-generation atomic sensors with improved sensitivity and stability.