Alkali-atom optical clock on a photonics-integrated circuit (23-000005146)

Abstract

This proposal explores proof-of-concept integration and multiplexing of atomic optical clocks in a fiber-coupled photonics-integrated circuit (PIC). The clock is based on driving a dipole-forbidden quadrupole transition in atomic cesium and the state population is detected by fluorescence following a cascaded radiative decay. In the proposed project, a large ensemble of cesium atoms will be laser cooled and loaded into an array of clock-magic optical microtraps on a nanophotonic microring resonator that is tuned to resonantly collect the fluorescence photons with near unity efficiency. Using the narrow quadrupole transition, this project will characterize the radiative lifetime of the clock state and measure the atom-surface Casimir-Polder (CP) interaction, aiming to find a geometry design for increasing the radiative lifetime, thus enhancing the clock stability, and for minimizing impact from the CP shift. This project aims at achieving low optical power consumption (<1mW) for driving the clock transition and supports development of on-chip MEMS/electro-optical resonance tuning for multiplexing the PIC clock. Lastly, the project will demonstrate spin-squeezing of an atomic ensemble on a PIC as a proof-of-concept for future applications of quantum-entangled optical clock network via fiber-coupled PICs.Approved for Public Release.

Document Details

Document Type
DoD Grant Award
Publication Date
Mar 08, 2024
Source ID
N000142412184

Entities

People

  • Chen-Lung Hung

Organizations

  • Office of Naval Research
  • Purdue University
  • United States Navy

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Optical Physics and Photonics.
  • Quantum Dot Semiconductor Device Photonics and Graphene Optoelectronic Materials and THz Physics.
  • Quantum spin resonance or Electron Paramagnetic Resonance spectroscopy.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Directed Energy - Lasers
  • Quantum Computing