A Hertz-Linewidth Ultrastable Diode Laser System for Clock Transition Detection of Strontium Atoms

The frequencies of two 698 nm external cavity diode lasers （ECDLs） are locked separately to two independently located ultrahigh finesse optical resonant cavities with the Pound Drever-Hall technique. The linewidth of each ECDL is measured to be -4.6 Hz by their beating and the fractional frequency stability below 5 × 10^-15 between 1 s to lOs averaging time. Another 698nm laser diode is injection locked to one of the cavity-stabilized ECDLs with a fixed frequency offset for power amplification while maintaining its linewidth and frequency characteristics. The frequency drift is H1 Hz/s measured by a femtosecond optical frequency comb based on erbium fiber. The output of the injection slave laser is delivered to the magneto-optical trap of a Sr optical clock through a iO- ta-long single mode polarization maintaining fiber with an active fiber noise cancelation technique to detect the clock transition of Sr atoms.     

A 420nm Blue Diode Laser for the Potential Rubidium Optical Frequency Standard

We report a 420 nm external cavity diode laser with an interference filter(IF) of 0.5 nm narrow-bandwidth and79% high transmission, which is first used for Rb optical frequency standard. The IF and the cat-eye reflector are used for selecting wavelength and light feedback, respectively. The measured laser linewidth is 24 kHz when the diode laser is free running. Using this narrow-linewidth IF blue diode laser, we realize a compact Rb optical frequency standard without a complicated PDH system. The preliminary stability of the Rb optical frequency standard is 2× 10~(-13) at 1 s and decreases to 1.9×10~(-14) at 1000 s. The narrow-linewidth characteristic makes the IF blue diode laser a well suited candidate for the compact Rb optical frequency standard.     

Precision spectroscopy with a single ~(40)Ca~+ ion in a Paul trap

Precision measurement of the 4s2S1/2–3d2D5/2clock transition based on40Ca+ion at 729 nm is reported. A single40Ca+ion is trapped and laser-cooled in a ring Paul trap, and the storage time for the ion is more than one month. The linewidth of a 729 nm laser is reduced to about 1 Hz by locking to a super cavity for longer than one month uninterruptedly.The overall systematic uncertainty of the clock transition is evaluated to be better than 6.5×10-16. The absolute frequency of the clock transition is measured at the 10-15 level by using an optical frequency comb referenced to a hydrogen maser which is calibrated to the SI second through the global positioning system(GPS). The frequency value is 411 042 129776 393.0(1.6) Hz with the correction of the systematic shifts. In order to carry out the comparison of two40Ca+optical frequency standards, another similar40Ca+optical frequency standard is constructed. Two optical frequency standards exhibit stabilities of 1×10-14τ-1/2with 3 days of averaging. Moreover, two additional precision measurements based on the single trapped40Ca+ion are carried out. One is the 3d2D5/2state lifetime measurement, and our result of 1174(10) ms agrees well with the results reported in [Phys. Rev. A 62 032503(2000)] and [Phys. Rev. A 71 032504(2005)]. The other one is magic wavelengths for the 4s2S1/2–3d2D5/2clock transition; λ|m j|=1/2= 395.7992(7) nm and λ|m j|=3/2=395.7990(7) nm are reported, and it is the first time that two magic wavelengths for the40Ca+clock-transition have been reported.     

All-fiber ring-cavity based frequency swept laser source for frequency domain OCT

<正>We develop a high-speed tunable,quasi-continuous-wave laser source for frequency domain(FD) optical coherence tomography(OCT).The laser resonance is realized within a unidirectional all-fiber ring cavity consisting of a fiber coupler,two fiber isolators,a semiconductor optical amplifier(SOA),and a fiber FabryPerot tunable filter(FFP-TF) for frequency tuning.Light output from the coupler is further amplified and spectral shaped by a booster SOA terminated at both ends with two isolators.The developed laser source provides up to 8000 sweeps per second over a full-width wavelength tuning range of 120 nm at center wavelength of 1320 nm with an average power of 9 mW,yielding an axial resolution of 13.6μm in air and a maximum sensitivity of about 112 dB for OCT imaging.The instantaneous linewidth is about 0.08 nm,enabling OCT imaging over an axial range of 3.4 mm in air.For optimization consideration based on this custom-built swept laser,experimental study on imaging quality relevant parameters of the swept laser with sine and ramp driving waveforms to the FFP-TF is conducted,and investigation of the swept laser on the cavity length is done.Implementing the laser source in our established swept source based OCT(SS-OCT) system,real-time structural imaging of biological tissue is demonstrated.     

A high-power high-stability Q-switched green laser with intracavity frequency doubling using a diode-pumped composite ceramic Nd：YAG laser

We successfully obtain a high-average-power high-stability Q-switched green laser based on diode-side-pumped composite ceramic Nd:YAG in a straight plano-concave cavity. The temperature distribution in composite ceramic Nd:YAG crystal is numerically analyzed and compared with that of conventional Nd:YAG crystal. By using a composite ceramic Nd:YAG rod and a type-II high gray track resistance KTP (HGTR-KTP) crystal, a green laser with an average output power of 165 W is obtained at a repetition rate of 25 kHz, with a diode-to-green optical conversion of 14.68%, and a pulse width of 162 ns. To the best of our knowledge, both the output power and optical-to-optical efficiency are the highest values for green laser systems with intracavity frequency doubling of this novel composite ceramic Nd:YAG laser to date. The power fluctuation at around 160 W is lower than 0.3% in 2.5 hours.     

Laser frequency stabilization and shifting by using modulation transfer spectroscopy

The stabilizing and shifting of laser frequency are very important for the interaction between the laser and atoms. The modulation transfer spectroscopy for the87 Rb atom with D2 line transition F = 2 → F = 3 is used for stabilizing and shifting the frequency of the external cavity grating feedback diode laser. The resonant phase modulator with electro–optical effect is used to generate frequency sideband to lock the laser frequency. In the locking scheme, circularly polarized pump- and probe-beams are used. By optimizing the temperature of the vapor, the pump- and probe-beam intensity, the laser linewidth of 280 kHz is obtained. Furthermore, the magnetic field generated by a solenoid is added into the system. Therefore the system can achieve the frequency locking at any point in a range of hundreds of megahertz frequency shifting with very low power loss.     

Transferring the stability of iodine-stabilized diode laser at 634 nm to radio frequency by an optical frequency comb

An optical flequency comb phase-locked on an iodine frequency stabilized diode laser at 634 nm is constructed to transfer the accuracy and stability from the optical domain to the radio frequency domain. An external-cavity diode laser is frequency-stabilized on the Doppler-free absorption signals of the hyperfine transition R（80）8-4 using the third-harmonic detection technique. The instability of the ultra-stable optical oscillator is determined to be 7 ×10^-12 by a cesium atomic clock via the optical frequency comb＇s mass frequencv dividing technique.     

Precision Frequency Measurement of ~(87)Rb 5S_(1/2)(F=2)→5D_(5/2)(F″=4)Two-Photon Transition through a Fiber-Based Optical Frequency Comb

The absolute frequency of~(87)Rb 5S_(1/2)(F=2)→5D_(5/2)(F″=4) two-photon transition at 778 nm is measured in an accuracy of 44 kHz.A home-made erbium-doped fiber laser frequency comb with frequency stability of5.0 ×10~(-13)@1s is employed for the light source.By using a periodically poled lithium niobate,the femtosecond pulse operating in 1556 nm is frequency-doubled to 778 nm to obtain the direct two-photon transition spectroscopy of thermal rubidium vapor.Through sweeping the carrier envelope offset frequency(f_(ceo)),the 5S_(1/2)(F=2)→5D_(5/2)(F"=4)two-photon transition line is clearly resolved and its absolute frequency is determined via the peak-finding of the fitting curve.After the frequency correction,the measured result agrees well with the previous experiment on this transition.The entire system configuration is compact and robust,providing a potential candidate of optical frequency standard for telecommunication applications.     

Threshold characteristic of intracavity optical parametric oscillator pumped by all-solid-state Q-switched laser

We derive the threshold pump intensity for a singly resonant intracavity optical parametric oscillator (IOPO)based on a temporal coupled field model.Particular attention is paid to the dependence of the intracavity singly resonant OPO(SRO)threshold intensity on the signal wave output coupling.Meanwhile, a Nd:YAG laser pumped KTiOPO_4(KTP)IOPO for eye-safe laser output is studied experimentally. The experiment is performed with four signal wave output reflectivities of 60%,70%,80%,and 90%, respectively.The measured values are in good agreement with the theoretical results.With an output coupler reflectivity of 80%,a peak power of 70 kW at 1572 nm has been obtained at a repetition rate of 3.5 kHz.The pulse width is 4.9 ns.Such investigation is helpful to identifying suitable operational regime of low pump intensity.     

Laser frequency instability of 6×10^-16 using 10-cm-long cavities on a cubic spacer

We demonstrate two ultra-stable laser systems at 1064 nm by independently stabilizing two 10-cm-long Fabry–Pérot cavities.The reference cavities are on a cubic spacer,which is rigidly mounted for both low sensitivity to environmental vibration and ability for transportation.By comparing against an independent ultra-stable laser at 578 nm via an optical frequency comb,the 1064 nm lasers are measured to have frequency instabilities of 6×10^-16 at 1 s averaging time.     

Design and test of the microwave cavity in an optically-pumped Rubidium beam frequency standard

We are developing a compact rubidium atomic beam frequency standard with optical pumping and detection.The cavity for microwave interrogation is an important part of the clock.The cavity in our design is a Ramsey-type,E-bend one,which is the same as the conventional method in most cesium beam clocks.Requirements for the design are proposed based on the frequency shift associated with the cavity.The basic structure of the cavity is given by theoretical analysis and detailed dimensions are determined by means of electromagnetic field simulation with the help of commercial software.The cavity is manufactured and fabricated successfully.The preliminary test result of the cavity is given,which is in good agreement with the simulation.The resonant frequency is 6.835 GHz,equal to the clock transition frequency of87Rb,and the loaded quality factor is 500.These values are adjustable with posts outside the cavity.Estimations on the Ramsey line width and several frequency shifts are made.     

Ultra-Stable Rubidium-Stabilized External-Cavity Diode Laser Based on the Modulation Transfer Spectroscopy Technique

We construct an ultra-stable external-cavity diode laser via modulation transfer spectroscopy referencing on a hyperfine component of the ST Rb D2 lines at 780 nm. The Doppler-free dispersion-like modulation transfer signal is obtained with high signal-to-noise-ratio. The instability of the laser frequency is measured by beating with an optical frequency comb which is phase-locked to an ultra-stable oven controlled crystal oscillator. The Allan deviation is 3.9 × 10-13 at I s averaging time and 9.8 ×10-14 at 90s averaging time.     

Coherence transfer from 1064 nm to 578 nm using an optically referenced frequency comb

A laser at 578 nm is phase-locked to an optical frequency comb(OFC) which is optically referenced to a subhertzlinewidth laser at 1064 nm. Coherence is transferred from 1064 nm to 578 nm via the OFC. By comparing with a cavitystabilized laser at 578 nm, the absolute linewidth of 1.1 Hz and the fractional frequency instability of 1.3 × 10-15 at an averaging time of 1 s for each laser at 578 nm have been determined, which is limited by the performance of the reference laser for the OFC.     

A diode laser spectrometer at 634nm and absolute frequency measurements using optical frequency comb

This paper reports that two identical external-cavity-diode-laser (ECDL) based spectrometers are constructed at 634 nm referencing on the hyperfine B-X transition R(80)8-4 of ¹²⁷I₂. The lasers are stabilized on the Doppler-free absorption signals using the third-harmonic detection technique. The instability of the stabilized laser is measured to be 2.8×10^-12 (after 1000 s) by counting the beat note between the two lasers. The absolute optical frequency of the transition is, for the first time, determined to be 472851936189.5 kHz by using an optical frequency comb referenced on the microwave caesium atomic clock. The uncertainty of the measurement is less than 4.9 kHz.     

Determination of hyperfine structure constants of 5D_(5/2) and 7S_(1/2) states of rubidium in cascade atomic system

We present a method to precisely determine the hyperfine structure constants of the rubidium 5D_(5/2) and 7S_(1/2) states in a cascade atomic system. The probe laser is coupled to the 5S_(1/2)→ 5P_(3/2) hyperfine transition, while the coupling laser is scanned over the 5P_(3/2)→ 5D_(5/2)(7S_(1/2)) transition. The high-resolution double-resonance optical pumping spectra are obtained with two counter-propagating laser beams acting on rubidium vapor. The hyperfine splitting structures are accurately measured by an optical frequency ruler based on the acousto-optic modulator, thus, the magnetic dipole hyperfine coupling constant A and quadrupole coupling constant B are determined. It is of great significance for the atomic hyperfine structure and fundamental physics research.     

Frequency Stabilization of Pulsed Injection-Seeded OPO Based on Optical Heterodyne Technique

A frequency stabilizing system for a pulsed injection seeded 1550 nm optical parametric oscillator(OPO) at 20 Hz repetition rate is demonstrated.The optical heterodyne method is used to measure the frequency difference between the seed laser and the OPO output.Using the frequency difference as the error signal,a proportionalintegral controller in combination with a scanner is applied to stably match the OPO cavity length to the seed laser frequency.The root-mean-square(rms) error of the frequency discrimination method is 0.07 MHz according to a ‘frequency shifting-chopping-beat' evaluation.The frequency fluctuation of the frequency-stabilized OPO is0.29 MHz(rms),and the Allan deviation is less than 20 k Hz for averaging time of more than 3 s.     

Wavelength tunability of tandem optical parametric oscillator based on single PPMgOLN crystal

The theoretical analysis and experimental results of the wavelength tunability of a tandem optical parametric oscillator (TOPO) based on a single nonlinear crystal are presented.TOPO is a configuration wherein the signal laser is used as a pump laser to generate secondary optical parametric oscillator (OPO).The cascaded parametric interactions are achieved synchronously in a single-grating-period MgO doped periodically poled lithium niobate (PPMgOLN).Tunable multiple-wavelength mid-infrared (mid-IR) lasers are obtained by changing the temperature of the crystal.When the PPMgOLN crystal with a grating period of 31.2 μm is operated at 148 ℃,the dual OPOs generate an identical mid-IR laser of 2.83 μm.The secondary OPO transforms into an optical parametric amplifier,in which different frequency mixing from the signal laser results in the amplification of the idler laser in the first OPO.TOPO is a useful configuration for multiple laser output,broad tuning range,and high-efficiency mid-IR lasers.     

The power spectrum and correlation of flow noise for an axisymmetric body in water

Understanding the physical features of the flow noise for an axisymmetric body is important for improving the performance of a sonar mounted on an underwater platform. Analytical calculation and numerical analysis of the physical features of the flow noise for an axisymmetric body are presented and a simulation scheme for the noise correlation on the hydrophones is given. It is shown that the numerical values of the flow noise coincide well with the analytical values. The main physical features of flow noise are obtained. The flow noises of two different models are compared and a model with a rather optimal fore-body shape is given. The flow noise in horizontal symmetry profile of the axisymmetric body is non-uniform, but it is omni-directional and has little difference in the cross section of the body. The loss of noise diffraction has a great effect on the flow noise from boundary layer transition. Meanwhile, based on the simulation, the noise power level increases with velocity to approximately the fifth power at high frequencies, which is consistent with the experiment data reported in the literature. Furthermore, the flow noise received by the acoustic array has lower correlation at a designed central frequency, which is important for sonar system design.