High-performance, compact optical standard

Abstract

We describe a high-performance, compact optical frequency standard based on a microfabricated Rb vapor cell and a low-noise, external cavity diode laser operating on the Rb two-photon transition at 778 nm. The optical standard achieves an instability of 1.8 × 10 − 13 τ − 1 / 2 for times less than 100 s and a flicker noise floor of 1 × 10 − 14 out to 6000 s. At long integration times, the instability is limited by variations in optical probe power and the ac Stark shift. The retrace was measured to 5.7 × 10 − 13 after 30 h of dormancy. Such a simple, yet high-performance optical standard could be suitable as an accurate realization of the meter or, if coupled with an optical frequency comb, as a compact atomic clock comparable to a hydrogen maser.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Sep 15, 2021
Source ID
10.1364/ol.435603

Entities

People

  • Connor Fredrick
  • Holly Leopardi
  • John E. Kitching
  • Leo Hollberg
  • Matthew T Hummon
  • Scott A. Diddams
  • Tara M. Fortier
  • Vincent Maurice
  • Zachary L. Newman

Organizations

  • Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
  • National Institute of Standards and Technology
  • Stanford University
  • University of Colorado

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Optical Physics and Photonics.
  • Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) Technology.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Directed Energy - Lasers