利用钟跃迁谱线测量超稳光学参考腔的零温漂点

在87Sr光晶格钟实验系统中,通过将自由运转的698 nm激光频率锁定在由超低膨胀系数的玻璃材料构成的超稳光学参考腔上,从而获得短期频率稳定性较好的超稳窄线宽激光.超稳光学参考腔的腔长稳定性决定了最终激光频率的稳定度.为了降低腔长对温度的敏感性,使激光频率具有更好的稳定度和更小的频率漂移,利用锶原子光晶格钟的钟跃迁谱线,测量了698 nm超稳窄线宽激光系统中超稳光学参考腔的零温漂点.通过对钟跃迁谱线中心频率随温度的变化曲线进行二阶多项式拟合,得到698 nm超稳窄线宽激光系统的零温漂点为30.63℃.利用锶原子光晶格钟的闭环锁定,测得零温漂点处698 nm超稳窄线宽激光系统的线性频率漂移率为0.15 Hz/s,频率不稳定度为1.6×10^–15@3.744 s.     

锶原子互组跃迁荧光谱及其特性的研究

真空锁频系统是实现激光稳频的重要组成部分,在该系统中产生高分辨互组跃迁荧光谱((5s~2)~1S_0→(5s5p)~3P_1)是分析原子谱线相关特性及精确测量跃迁频率等参数的前提。本文通过将装载有毛细管的准直器置于锶炉内,从源头减小原子束的发散角,将原子束的发散角减小至3.1 mrad。即减小原子束的横向速度,进而减弱光与原子作用的一阶多普勒频移,实验最终得到分辨率较高且线宽为26 MHz的互组跃迁荧光谱。锶原子互组跃迁荧光谱特性的相关研究对于光晶格原子钟锁频系统的建立具有重要意义,因此本文从实验上探讨并分析了锶炉温度和激光光强等因素对互组跃迁荧光谱的影响。     

基于高精细度光腔锁频激光的分子吸收光谱测量

利用高精细度光腔锁定激光频率,实现了对分子吸收光谱的高精度测量.光腔采用低热膨胀系数的殷钢结构设计和温度控制,实现了腔长度的稳定;通过将激光频率锁定在光腔纵模上,实现了高频率精度和高灵敏度的光腔衰荡光谱测量.利用该装置示范性地测量了二氧化碳分子在6470.42 cm~(-1)附近的光腔衰荡光谱和色散光谱,得到了高精度的谱线参数,并和数据库谱线参数进行了对比.     

锶原子二级Doppler冷却及温度的测量

为了减小锶原子跃迁谱线的多普勒增宽及频移,需要对锶原子进行激光冷却以降低它的速度,而一级冷却只能将原子温度降低至mK量级,这样的原子其速度过大而无法有效地装载至光晶格中,因此必须进行二级冷却.锶原子存在单重态与三重态(5s2)1S0-(5s5p)3P1间互组跃迁,利用与其跃迁波长在689 nm的窄线宽激光对锶原子进一步冷却,可将锶原子团温度降低至μK量级.利用时序有效、准确地控制磁场和光场与原子相互作用时间,通过飞行时间法对锶冷原子温度进行了测算.实验中应用计算机精确控制磁光阱区域中冷原子团下落时间,EMCCD记录冷原子团初始时刻和下落20 ms后的状态.经过分析计算二级冷却温度为4.39 μK,不确定度仅为0.19 μK,二级冷原子团数目约为1.2×10 7.低温二级冷却锶原子温度及原子数目的获得为锶光钟跃迁信号的信噪比估计提供实验参考,也是实现高精度时间频率标准的前提.     

F-P腔不同扫频段透射谱锁频精度实验

针对窄线宽激光器输出谱线窄,难以被锁定的情况,利用F-P腔特有极窄线宽、高精细度特性对激光器谱线线宽实施压窄及频率锁定。通过设计实验方案并搭建锁频测试平台,利用F-P腔外部光反馈将窄线宽半导体激光器线宽压窄来提高锁频精度。通过监测正弦波调制下F-P腔对于4种不同直流电压下激光PZT扫频段的透射谱线,并对其分别进行解调和锁频精度测试,得到直流高压放大器电压为73 V时对窄线宽激光器进行扫频,激光器反馈锁频精度最高可达1.5 MHz。     

243 nm稳频窄线宽半导体激光器

243 nm是氢原子1S-2S能级跃迁光谱波长. 本文利用Pound-Drever-Hall稳频技术将972 nm光栅反馈外腔半导体激光稳定在一个高精细度低膨胀系数的超稳法布里-珀罗腔上, 通过锥形放大器放大和腔内两次共振增强倍频得到243 nm激光, 最终实现用于探测氢原子1S-2S双光子跃迁的243 nm窄线宽激光.     

强磁场下Cs原子超精细塞曼能级上的光泵浦研究

强磁场中的Ｃｓ原子有较大的超精细塞曼分裂，实验用频率可调谐的窄线宽半导体激光调谐到各超精细塞曼能级上进行光泵浦，利用稳态吸收谱方法研究了原子的光泵浦。表明基态超精细相互作用的碰撞修正项导致的驰豫跃迁是谱形状和电子自旋极化新特征的根缘。同时提出了强场下极化度的一种测量方法。     

光学反馈线性腔衰荡光谱技术不确定性

腔衰荡光谱技术是一种高灵敏的腔增强分子吸收光谱测量技术,由于激光频率噪声大,导致激光到腔耦合效率低,严重限制了其对痕量气体的探测灵敏度.光学反馈可以有效压窄半导体激光器的线宽,提高激光到外部谐振腔的耦合效率.本文基于精细度为7800的Fabry-Pérot腔,发展了光学反馈线性腔衰荡光谱技术.首先从光场相位的角度给出了线性腔光学反馈的原理,然后分析了影响测量不确定性的因素,包括光学反馈率、衰荡信号触发阈值、探测器相对透射汇聚光斑位置等.实验结果表明,通过设置低反馈率(3%自由光谱区间)、高衰荡信号触发阈值(90%腔模幅度)以及将光斑聚焦到探测器有效面中心等措施,结合光学反馈效应,可将空腔衰荡时间的相对不确定度提升至0.026%,远优于传统腔衰荡技术获得的典型值.系统在积分时间为180 s时,获得探测灵敏度为1.3×10^–10 cm^–1,对应甲烷的最小可探测吸收体积浓度为0.35×10^–9,从而满足了碳监测的要求.     

锶原子三重态谱线的观测及在光钟中的应用

实验中通过互组跃迁689 nm激光抽运形成三重态最低能态原子布居,引入688 nm激光改变三重态最低能态间的原子布居,利用抽运光与探测光空间分离的方法观测碱土金属锶原子的三重态能态间跃迁(5s6s)³S₁ → (5s5p)³P_j(j=0,1,2)的吸收谱线,对应三条跃迁线的激光波段为679 nm, 688 nm和707 nm.探测三重态原子跃迁谱线可以用于锶原子冷却中再抽运光707 nm和679 nm激光频率的直接锁定,相比于通常利用的腔传递技术,可以把再抽运光频率锁定在原子跃迁谱线上,有利于提高锶原子冷却中俘获原子数目的长期稳定性.     

高精细度光学参考腔的自主化研制

高精细度超稳光学参考腔是获得超窄线宽激光的核心部件.本文报道了面向空间应用的高精细度球形超稳光学参考腔自主化研制及其初步测试结果.设计球形腔体直径为80 mm,腔长78 mm,采用平-凹腔镜结构,凹镜曲率半径为0.5 m.使用有限元方法计算了该参考腔的震动敏感度,最佳支撑位置的震动敏感度小于1×10~(-10)/g.采用超光滑表面三级抛光技术实现光学表面粗糙度小于0.4 nm(rms)的超精密加工,采用双离子束溅射法实现工作波长反射率大于99.999%、损耗小于4 ppm腔镜镀膜,干式光胶方法键合腔体和腔镜.利用扫腔线宽法和腔衰荡法对参考腔的线宽和精细度进行了测量,结果表明该参考腔的精细度约为195000,线宽为9.8 kHz.将698 nm半导体激光器锁定到该参考腔上测得其损耗5 ppm.与实验室进口同类型参考腔相比较,主要性能指标与其相当.     

Kilohertz-resolution spectroscopy of cold atoms with an optical frequency comb

We have performed sub-Doppler spectroscopy on the narrow intercombination line of cold calcium atoms using the amplified output of a femtosecond laser frequency comb. Injection locking of a 657-nm diode laser with a femtosecond comb allows for two regimes of amplification, one in which many lines of the comb are amplified, and one where a single line is predominantly amplified. The output of the laser in both regimes was used to perform kilohertz-level spectroscopy. This experiment demonstrates the potential for high-resolution absolute-frequency spectroscopy over the entire spectrum of the frequency comb output using a single high-finesse optical reference cavity.     

Optical fiber strain sensor using fiber resonator based on frequency comb Vernier spectroscopy

A novel (to our best knowledge) optical fiber strain sensor using a fiber ring resonator based on frequency comb Vernier spectroscopy is proposed and demonstrated. A passively mode-locked optical fiber laser is employed to generate a phased-locked frequency comb. Strain applied to the optical fiber of the fiber ring resonator can be measured with the transmission spectrum. A good linearity is obtained between displacement and the inverse of wavelength spacing with an R(2) of 0.9989, and high sensitivities better than 40 pm/με within the range of 0 to 10 με are achieved. The sensitivity can be proportionally improved by increasing the length of the optical fiber ring resonator.     

Direct comparison of two cold-atom-based optical frequency standards by using a femtosecond-laser comb

With a fiber-broadened, femtosecond-laser frequency comb, the 76-THz interval between two laser-cooled optical frequency standards was measured with a statistical uncertainty of 2x10(-13) in 5 s , to our knowledge the best short-term instability thus far reported for an optical frequency measurement. One standard is based on the calcium intercombination line at 657 nm, and the other, on the mercury ion electric-quadrupole transition at 282 nm. By linking this measurement to the known Ca frequency, we report a new frequency value for the Hg(+) clock transition with an improvement in accuracy of ~10(5) compared with its best previous measurement.     

锶原子互组跃迁荧光探测系统的研制

锶原子单态和三重态间的互组跃迁(5s2)1S0-(5s5p)3P1辐射率远小于一般的电偶极跃迁,共振跃迁荧光信号微弱。介绍了一种应用于探测该互组跃迁荧光谱的直流偏置探测器。该探测器选用极低输入偏置电流运算放大器作为前置放大,具有信噪比高、增益高、偏置可调等优点。此探测器探测增益为106 V/W量级,-3dB带宽为1MHz。实验中利用该探测器对锶原子互组跃迁(5s2)1S0-(5s5p)3P1微弱共振荧光进行探测,获得信噪比很好的共振荧光谱,且无直流偏置,并由此获得高信噪比的鉴频曲线。应用该探测器观测到了饱和荧光谱线以及对应的鉴频曲线,可用于689nm激光锁频,应用于锶光钟系统。     

飞秒光学频率梳高精度气体吸收光谱技术进展

飞秒光学频率梳以其频谱宽、脉宽窄、频率稳定度高等优点,对光学频率计量、绝对距离测量、高精度光谱测定产生重大影响。飞秒光学频率梳的时域特性和频域特性溯源至微波频率基准,使得高精度气体吸收光谱探测成为可能。飞秒光学频率梳光谱技术具有测量速度快、光谱灵敏度高、分辨率高、信噪比高等优点,因此加大对飞秒光学频率梳光谱技术的研究力度将更好地服务于环境保护、工业生产、生物医学、科学研究等各领域。飞秒光频梳高精度气体吸收光谱主要可分为光频梳腔衰荡光谱、光频梳腔增强光谱和双光频梳多外差光谱。其中,根据采集方式不同,光频梳腔增强光谱又可分为梳齿游标测量法、虚拟成像相位阵列测量法和傅里叶变换测量法。目前,国外已广泛开展相关研究,而国内仍处于起步阶段。本文综述了飞秒光学频率梳高精度气体吸收光谱探测的主要技术方法,展示了不同测量方法典型的实验方案,分析了各探测方法的优缺点,并追踪了主要研究小组的前沿成果。     

Proposal of a frequency-synthesis chain between the microwave and optical frequencies of the Ca intercombination line at 657 nm using diode lasers

We propose a frequency synthesis chain which can directly connect a microwave atomic clock with a visible laser. We design this chain for the frequency measurement of a visible laser locked on the intercombination transition of Ca at 657 nm. The proposed chain is based on both an optical difference frequency divider and an optical frequency comb generator, and it is designed to use nine visible and near-infrared diode lasers. We discuss the technical requirements to realize the frequency measurement accuracy level of 10^–14.     

Stabilization of femtosecond lasers for optical frequency metrology and direct optical to radio frequency synthesis

We have actively stabilized the comb of frequencies from a mode-locked femtosecond laser using a Fabry-Perot reference cavity. This technique offers the ability to synthesize a comb of highly stable radio frequencies directly from optical transitions. The measured fractional frequency instability of the components of the frequency comb relative to the reference cavity was <5x10(-13) in 0.1 sec. The variation of the optical mode spacing versus frequency of the reference cavity was also directly measured using this technique.     

Sweep optical frequency synthesizer with a distributed-Bragg-reflector laser injection locked by a single component of an optical frequency comb

A sweep optical frequency synthesizer is demonstrated by using a frequency-stabilized optical frequency comb and injection-locked distributed-Bragg-reflector (DBR) laser diode. The injection-locked DBR laser acts as a single-frequency filter and, simultaneously, a high-gain amplifier of the optical frequency comb. The frequency instability of the heterodyne beat signal between two independently injection-locked DBR lasers is measured to be 2.3 x 10(-16) at 1 s averaging time. The output frequency of the sweep optical frequency synthesizer can be precisely tuned over 1 GHz, and a saturated absorption spectrum of the Cs D2 line at 852 nm is recorded by the injected DBR laser.     

基于扫描激光的腔增强吸收光谱研究

介绍了一种建立在半导体激光扫描基础上的腔增强吸收光谱技术。简要介绍了从衰荡吸收光谱技术向腔增强吸收光谱的发展及腔增强吸收光谱的实验装置,实验证明能够将 DFB 型半导体激光与高精密光学谐振腔相结合,用简单的实验装置进行高灵敏、高分辨直接吸收光谱测量。实验中,激光器的输出波长用一台波长计精确测量,当激光器的输出频率与某一腔模的频率共振时,激光被耦合到一个用两块高反射率平凹透镜(在 1.572μm 附近,R~0.994)组成的 34cm 长的高精密光学谐振腔,通过测量激光透过谐振腔后的光强,得到了二氧化碳分子在6358.654cm-1附近的吸收光谱,探测灵敏度达到了 1.2×10-5cm-1。