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Comparison of laser system designs for quantum technologies: BECCAL flight system vs. BECCAL ground test bed

Victoria Henderson, Jean Pierre Marburger, André Wenzlawski, Tim Kroh, Hamish Beck, Marc Kitzmann, Ahmad Bawamia, Warner, Marvin, Mareen Laura Czech, Matthias Schoch, Jakob Pohl, M. Dammasch, Christian Kürbis, Ortwin Hellmig, Christoph Grzeschik, Evgeny V. Kovalchuk, Bastian Leykauf, Hrudya Thaivalappil Sunilkumar, Christoph Weise, Sören Boles, Esther del Pino Rosendo, Faruk A. Sellami, Bojan Hansen, Jan Markus Baumann, Tobias Franke, Hahn, Alina, Karl Häusler, Max Schiemangk, Robert Smol, Jonas Strobelt, K. Sengstock, Andreas Wicht, Windpassinger, Patrick, Achim Peters

Published Nov 26, 2025• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We present the design of laser systems for the Bose-Einstein Condensate and Cold Atom Laboratory (BECCAL) payload, enabling numerous quantum technological experiments onboard the International Space Station (ISS), in particular dual species 87 Rb and 41 K Bose-Einstein condensates. A flight model (FM) and a commercial off the shelf (COTS) based model are shown, both of which meet the BECCAL requirements in terms of functionality, but have differing size, weight and power (SWaP) and environmental requirements. The capabilities of both models are discussed and characteristics compared. The flight model of BECCAL uses specifically developed and qualified custom components to create a compact and robust system suitable for long-term remote operation onboard the ISS. This system is based on ECDL-MOPA lasers and free-space optical benches made of Zerodur, as well as commercial fibre components. The COTS-based system utilizes entirely commercial parts to create a functionally equivalent system for operation in a standard laboratory, without the strict SWaP and environmental constraints of the flight model.

DOI
10.18452/35941

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We present the design of laser systems for the Bose-Einstein Condensate and Cold Atom Laboratory (BECCAL) payload, enabling numerous quantum technological experiments onboard the International Space Station (ISS), in particular dual species 87 Rb and 41 K Bose-Einstein condensates. A flight model (FM) and a commercial off the shelf (COTS) based model are shown, both of which meet the BECCAL requirements in terms of functionality, but have differing size, weight and power (SWaP) and environmental requirements. The capabilities of both models are discussed and characteristics compared. The flight model of BECCAL uses specifically developed and qualified custom components to create a compact and robust system suitable for long-term remote operation onboard the ISS. This system is based on ECDL-MOPA lasers and free-space optical benches made of Zerodur, as well as commercial fibre components. The COTS-based system utilizes entirely commercial parts to create a functionally equivalent system for operation in a standard laboratory, without the strict SWaP and environmental constraints of the flight model.
Abstract We present the design of laser systems for the Bose-Einstein Condensate and Cold Atom Laboratory (BECCAL) payload, enabling numerous quantum technological experiments onboard the International Space Station (ISS), in particular dual species 87 Rb and 41 K Bose-Einstein condensates. A flight model (FM) and a commercial off the shelf (COTS) based model are shown, both of which meet the BECCAL requirements in terms of functionality, but have differing size, weight and power (SWaP) and environmental requirements. The capabilities of both models are discussed and characteristics compared. The flight model of BECCAL uses specifically developed and qualified custom components to create a compact and robust system suitable for long-term remote operation onboard the ISS. This system is based on ECDL-MOPA lasers and free-space optical benches made of Zerodur, as well as commercial fibre components. The COTS-based system utilizes entirely commercial parts to create a functionally equivalent system for operation in a standard laboratory, without the strict SWaP and environmental constraints of the flight model.
The Bose-Einstein Condensate and Cold Atom Laboratory (BECCAL) is a DLR-NASA collaboration targeting the operation of a multi-user facility aboard the International Space Station (ISS). BECCAL will be a pathfinder mission to test concepts of future quantum sensors with applications in e.g. gravity missions for earth observation and search for a violation of the universality of free fall. It will feature various capabilities for quantum-optical, atom-optical, and atom-interferometric manipulation methods of laser-cooled atoms and notably Bose-Einstein condensates. The persistent microgravity condition aboard the ISS opens the opportunity for enhanced free-fall times, overlapping multi-species trap configurations impossible on earth thanks to the lack of gravitational sag, and repeatability for detailed statistical analysis. In this contribution the design implementation of these capabilities will be presented and derived performance estimates will be discussed. The BECCAL payload is designed and constructed by the BECCAL Collaboration comprising the DLR Institute of Quantum Technology, the DLR Institute for Satellite Geodesy and Inertial Sensing, the DLR Institute for Software Technology, the Leibniz Universität Hannover, the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, the Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, the Ferdinand Braun Institut für Höchstfrequenztechnik, the Universität Bremen, the Universtität Hamburg, the Universität Ulm, and OHB System AG, with funding support by the DLR Space Agency.
The BECCAL (Bose-Einstein-Condensate – Cold Atom Laboratory) apparatus is a high precision quantum optics experiment which will fly on the International Space Station (ISS). It shall be constructed and operated within a bilateral collaboration between the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). As a multi user facility, BECCAL shall satisfy the needs of both the American and German scientific community concerning cold atom physics. Various needs are expressed for the functionalities of the scientific apparatus extended by the requirements for operation of an instrument aboard the ISS. For installation into the dedicated accommodation the complex systems have to be mechanically and thermally designed to meet these requirements. Additionally BECCAL has to fit into the Size Weight and Power (SWaP) budget given by the launcher and the ISS rack. This paper gives a summary of the project BECCAL and its environment. Furthermore, the mechanical design of the system is presented. A preliminary approach for the Thermal Control System (TCS) of BECCAL is pointed out afterwards. The paper closes with a conclusion and an outlook on the future work for BECCAL.
Quantum-optical experiments situated in a gravitationally bound experimental setup are fundamentally limited in numerous ways, such as the gravitational sag experienced by the trapped atoms or the limited free-evolution times of an atomic interferometer.These constraints can be overcome by deploying the experiment in a microgravity platform, such as the International Space Station (ISS).The Bose-Einstein Condensate and Cold Atom Laboratory (BECCAL), a collaboration between NASA and DLR and successor to NASA's CAL mission, aims to achieve just that.Planned as a multi-user experimental facility, it will enable numerous quantum-optical experiments with ultracold atomic clouds of different isotopes of rubidium and potassium in the microgravity environment of the ISS.The optical capabilities of this experiment will be manifold: Atoms can be cooled and trapped using a 2D-and 3D-magneto optical trap (MOT).They can then be loaded into a red-detuned crossed optical dipole trap.Using blue-detuned light, arbitrary painted optical potentials can be applied.Atom interferometry along two separate interferometry axes is also possible.Fluorescence and absorption detection are available for imaging of the atomic ensemble.In this paper, we present a compact and robust optical distribution system which is required to enable this functionality.To this end, we use a combination of fiber-to-fiber coupled optical benches, and fiber-based components.This distribution system needs to withstand the vibrational loads during launch to the ISS, and needs to retain a good fiber-to-fiber coupling efficiency under varying environmental conditions, such as temperature fluctuations, without maintenance, through the multi-year mission time.We have designed a total of ten optical benches, eight for light distribution and two as spectroscopic units.The optical benches make use of our micro-optical bench toolkit based on the glass-ceramic Zerodur, which has mechanical properties akin to aluminium and a negligible coefficient of thermal expansion.The toolkit has been
Abstract Microgravity eases several constraints limiting experiments with ultracold and condensed atoms on ground. It enables extended times of flight without suspension and eliminates the gravitational sag for trapped atoms. These advantages motivated numerous initiatives to adapt and operate experimental setups on microgravity platforms. We describe the design of the payload, motivations for design choices, and capabilities of the Bose-Einstein Condensate and Cold Atom Laboratory (BECCAL), a NASA-DLR collaboration. BECCAL builds on the heritage of previous devices operated in microgravity, features rubidium and potassium, multiple options for magnetic and optical trapping, different methods for coherent manipulation, and will offer new perspectives for experiments on quantum optics, atom optics, and atom interferometry in the unique microgravity environment on board the International Space Station.
A number of cold atom experiments are restrained by the impeding effects of gravity.While efforts have been made to overcome these limitations in a gravitational environment, another approach is placing the experiment in a microgravity environment, as can be found aboard sounding rockets, satellites or a space station.The cornerstone of such experiments is a robust laser system.The adverse conditions during a rocket launch impose stringent requirements on thermal stability and resilience against mechanical stress on this part of the experimental setup.Furthermore, the very limited space found on any of the aforementioned microgravity platforms necessitates maximal miniaturization.In order to meet these requirements, we have developed a technology based on miniaturized free-space optics, mounted onto optical benches made from Zerodur, a glass-ceramic which exhibits a vanishing first order coefficient of thermal expansion.The technology has already been successfully implemented in the sounding rocket missions FOKUS, KALEXUS and MAIUS-1.It will also be used in the upcoming MAIUS-2/3 sounding rocket missions.To meet the even more restrictive size and mass constraints of the NASA-DLR Bose-Einstein Condensate and Cold Atom Laboratory (BECCAL) mission, a quantum optics multi-user facility aboard the International Space Station, we are currently investigating a new and improved design concept.While being motivated by these missions, our technology can be expanded to any other experimental field where a small and robust laser system is needed.