Miniaturized optical frequency reference for next-generation portable optical clocks
Abstract
Optical frequency standards, or lasers stabilized to atomic or molecular transitions, are widely used in length metrology and laser ranging, provide a backbone for optical communications and lie at the heart of next-generation optical atomic clocks. Here we demonstrate a compact, low-power optical frequency reference based on the Doppler-free, two-photon transition in rubidium-87 at 778 nm implemented on a micro-optics breadboard. Our optical reference achieves a fractional frequency instability of 2.9×10−12/ τ for averaging times τ less than 103 s, has a volume of ≈35 cm3 and operates on ≈450 mW of electrical power. The advanced optical integration presented here demonstrates a key step towards the development of compact optical clocks and the broad dissemination of SI-traceable wavelength references.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Aug 07, 2020
- Source ID
- 10.1364/oe.396296
Entities
People
- Cort Johnson
- James Hsiao
- John E. Kitching
- Mark Mescher
- Matthew T Hummon
- Morgan Rivers
- Phillip Greene
- Susannah Dickerson
- Vincent Maurice
- Zachary L. Newman
Organizations
- Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency