Minimization of the temperature coefficient of resonance frequency shift in the coherent population trapping clock

We studied the relationship between the frequency shift of coherent population trapping resonance and the cell temperature of (85)Rb. Results show that the temperature coefficient of the frequency shift can be reduced by buffer gas pressure adjustment and light shift optimization. When the contribution of buffer gas collision to temperature coefficient of frequency shift is less than 0.3 Hz/K, the contribution of light shift to the temperature coefficient of frequency shift becomes obvious. Under this cancelling effect, we can reduce the rate of total frequency shift to near zero.     

Absorption resonances in A-type three-level system in cesium vapor cell with buffer gas

We report experimentally the transformation from the electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) resonance to a dispersion-like signal and eventually to a nearly symmetric absorption resonance as coupling detuning increases in A-type three-level system in the cesium vapor cell with buffer gas at room temperature. The observed absorption resonance occupies some remarkable properties of the strong amplitude and the narrow linewidth in comparison with the case without buffer gas. The relation between linewidth of the enhanced absorption resonance and buffer gas pressure is studied. With pressure increasing, linewidth of the absorption resonance becomes narrow. The sub-natural linewidth is observed in Doppler-broadened cesium vapor cell in our experiment. The experimental results are in qualitative agreement with the numerical simulations.     

Coherent population trapping (Electromagnetically induced transparency) resonance in cells of finite sizes

The formation of the coherent population trapping (CPT) resonance in cells of finite sizes without a buffer gas is studied. It is found that, depending on the laser spectrum width, different CPT resonance narrowing mechanisms take place; these are the Dicke effect and the light-induced narrowing effect. Under light-induced narrowing conditions, the CPT resonance parameters are found to weakly depend on the cell size and the type of wall coating.     

Line-shape of dark line and maser emission profile in CPT

The paper is concerned with the line shapes of resonance phenomena observed in Coherent Population Trapping (CPT) applied to alkali atoms in a cell containing a buffer gas. Significant asymmetries and departures from a Lorentzian shape have been observed in connection with the measurement of dark lines and CPT maser emission profiles. Measurements are reported as a function of the power and frequency tuning of the laser used to create the CPT phenomenon. The paper reports on different experimental conditions and a comparison between theory and experiments is made for the cases of cesium and rubidium in a buffer gas. Received 3 March 2000 and Received in final form 10 April 2000     

High buffer gas pressure perturbation of coherent population trapping in sodium vapors

We report an experimental investigation of coherent population trapping in specially selected Zeeman levels of the sodium atom, performed under high buffer gas pressure in a polydimethylsiloxane coated cell at room temperature. The results show that coherent population trapping will not be completely destroyed when the buffer gas pressure reaches 1100 Torr for He and 1000, 800, and 500 Torr, for Ne, Ar and Kr, respectively. Buffer gases with heavier mass play a larger destructive role for the coherent population trapping. The line width of the dark resonance is reduced with buffer gas pressure. The behavior of the dark resonances on increasing buffer gas is discussed and possible applications are pointed out.     

Spectral narrowing of coherent population trapping resonance in laser-cooled and room-temperature atomic gas

We have investigated coherent population trapping (CPT) in laser-cooled as well as room-temperature (with and without buffer gas) rubidium atoms. The characteristic broad signal profile emerging from the two-photon Raman resonance for room-temperature atomic vapour is consistent with the theoretical calculation incorporating associated thermal averaging. The spectral width of the dark resonance obtained with cold atoms is found to be broadened, compared to room-temperature vapour cell, due to the feeble role played by thermal averaging, although the cold atomic sample significantly overcomes the limitation of the transit time broadening. An alternative way to improve transit time is to use a buffer gas, with which we demonstrate that the coherent population trapping signal width is reduced to < 540 Hz.     

CPT原子钟参数设计及其光谱实验研究

通过建立被动型CPT铯原子钟的理论模型,开展CPT信号与铯原子气室特性参量间关系的仿真分析和研究,建立铯原子气室设计及分析方法,得到了被动型CPT铯原子钟最佳设计参数,直径10 mm、长度10 mm、缓冲气体为N₂的圆柱形铯原子气室,最佳工作参数为：工作温度为320 K、气体压强值50 Torr。并经多波长多普勒吸收光谱、CPT信号锁定及频率稳定度测试等实验,验证了理论模型的正确性,为开展高性能芯片级CPT铯原子钟的设计、参数优化提供了一种研究方法。     

High contrast electromagnetically induced transparency in a nitrogen filled Rb vapour cell

We observe the electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) spectra inside a nitrogen filled Rb vapour cell (Rb-N₂) in a five-level Λ-type system of D₂ transition of Rb atom. The high contrast EIT resonance in buffer gas filled Rb cell is obtained under our experimental conditions. The effect of velocity changing coherence preserving collisions to obtain the contrast resonance in buffer gas cell has been discussed. We measured the dependence of EIT width and height on pump intensity and find that the EIT width (FWHM) and peak height have a linear dependence on pump intensity. Our experimental results show that the presence of N2 buffer gas reduces the power broadening of the observed resonances.     

激光诱导Al等离子体发射光谱特性的实验研究

本文从实验上研究了不同缓冲气体(He,Ar,N2和Air)中激光Al等离子体的时间分辨发射光谱,研究了原子发射谱线的强度和Stark展宽随延时、缓冲气体性质和压力变化的规律.结果表明原子谱线的强度在3μs左右达到最大值,随着延时的增加,谱线的Stark展宽减小,而缓冲气体压力的增大导致谱线的Stark展宽增大,在实验测定的四种缓冲气体中,Ar气体中谱线的Stark展宽最大.     

Development of the quantum discriminator for compact atomic clock

In the Laboratory of Frequency Standards, Quantum Radiophysics Division, Lebedev Physical Institute, a compact atomic standard of frequency and time is being developed. The results of this study make it possible to achieve a narrower metrological resonance of coherent population trapping (CPT) than in developed foreign analogues of compact atomic clocks, which will have a direct effect on the standard stability. The effect of the combination of buffer gas and antirelaxation coating on the CPT amplitude and resonance width are studied; parameters of short-cavity diode lasers (SCDLs) specially developed in collaboration with the Polyus Research and Development Institute are studied. A prototype of the compact physical discriminator for the atomic clock is developed and assembled. The dark width of the metrological resonance in the discriminator is less than 1 kHz, which theoretically implies the development of a compact atomic clock with a stability (Allan parameter) no worse than 3 · 10⁻¹² per hour.     

Intrinsic relaxation rates of polarized Cs vapor in miniaturized cells

The intrinsic relaxation rates of the vector magnetization of cesium vapor enclosed in microfabricated atomic magnetometer cells are investigated. Two methods—the optically detected magnetic resonance and the ground-state Hanle effect—are used to carry out automated measurements in dependence on cell temperature and nitrogen buffer gas pressure. The experimental results are compared with expected contributions of the different relaxation processes and in this way allow the discrimination between them to help further optimization of cell design. The methods are compared in terms of basic features, data quality, and practical applicability.     

Lineshape asymmetry for joint coherent population trapping and three-photon N resonances

We show that a characteristic two-photon lineshape asymmetry arises in coherent population trapping (CPT) and three-photon (N) resonances, because both resonances are simultaneously induced by modulation sidebands in the interrogating laser light. The N resonance is a three-photon resonance in which a two-photon Raman excitation is combined with a resonant optical pumping field. This joint CPT and N resonance can be the dominant source of lineshape distortion, with direct relevance for the operation of miniaturized atomic frequency standards. We present the results of both an experimental study and theoretical treatment of the asymmetry of the joint CPT and N resonance under conditions typical to the operation of an N resonance clock.     

Frequency Stability of Atomic Clocks Based on Coherent Population Trapping Resonance in ^85Rb

An atomic clock system based on coherent population trapping （CPT） resonance in 85Rb is reported, while most past works about the CPT clock are in ST Rb. A new modulation method （full-hyperfine-frequency-splitting modulation） is presented to reduce the effect of light shift to improve the frequency stability of the CPT clock in SSRb. The experimental results show that the short-term frequency stability of the CPT clock in SSRb is in the order of 10^-10/s and the long-term frequency stability can achieve 1.5 × 10^-11/80000s, which performs as well as 87 Rb in CPT resonance. This very good frequency stability performance associated with the low-cost and low-power properties of SSRb indicates that an atomic clock based on CPT in SSRb should be a promising candidate for making the chip scale atomic clock.     

Resonance transition 795-nm rubidium laser using He buffer gas

We report a demonstration of a 795-nm rubidium optical resonance transition laser using a buffer gas consisting of pure ³He. This follows our recent demonstration of a hydrocarbon-free 795-nm rubidium resonance laser which used naturally-occurring He as the buffer gas. Using He gas that is isotopically enriched with ³He yields enhanced mixing of the Rb fine-structure levels. This enables efficient lasing at reduced He buffer gas pressure, improved thermal management in high average power Rb lasers and enhanced power scaling potential of such systems.     

Population inversion on transitions to the ground state of atoms upon nonresonance absorption of laser radiation

Lasing at the resonance transitions (D _1? and D _2?lines) of sodium was observed in the superradiance mode upon nonresonance optical excitation in the presence of a buffer gas. The dependences of the lasing intensity on the exciting radiation intensity and on the detuning of its frequency from the frequencies of resonance transitions were studied. It is found that, under specific conditions of the experiment (high pressure of a buffer gas and a rather high radiation intensity), in the case of a large positive detuning of the exciting radiation frequency from the resonance (“working”) transition frequency, the population inversion is produced at the “ working” transition, which results in lasing.     

High-contrast coherent population trapping resonances using four-wave mixing in 87Rb

We demonstrate very high-contrast coherent population trapping(1) (CPT) resonances by using four-wave mixing in (87)Rb atoms. In the experiment, we take advantage of the spectral overlap between F=2-->F(?) and F=3-->F(?) optical resonances on the D1 line of (87)Rb and (85)Rb atoms, respectively, to eliminate the DC-light background from the CPT resonance signal. We observe a CPT resonance with a contrast in the range of 90%, compared with a few percent achieved by alternative methods.     

Review of chip-scale atomic clocks based on coherent population trapping

Research on chip-scale atomic clocks （CSACs） based on coherent population trapping （CPT） is reviewed. The back- ground and the inspiration for the research are described, including the important schemes proposed to improve the CPT signal quality, the selection of atoms and buffer gases, and the development of micro-cell fabrication. With regard to the re- liability, stability, and service life of the CSACs, the research regarding the sensitivity of the CPT resonance to temperature and laser power changes is also reviewed, as well as the CPT resonance＇s collision and light of frequency shifts. The first generation CSACs have already been developed but its characters are still far from our expectations. Our conclusion is that miniaturization and power reduction are the most important aspects calling for further research.     

Effect of buffer gases on the performance of SO2 trace measurement based on photoacoustic spectroscopy

In this experimental work a laser photoacoustic spectrometer designed and fabricated. System sensitivity for detection of SO₂ and NO₂ was measured. Resonance frequency variation versus pressure increase of Nitrogen, Argon, Helium and Air buffer gases was studied. Results show that, sensitivity of system for SO₂ and NO₂ are 353 ppb and 963 ppb respectively. It was shown that resonance frequency for Nitrogen, Argon, and Air buffer gases was not noticeably varied by buffer gas pressure increasing, but for Helium, resonance frequency not only is not in range of three other gases, but also grows by pressure increasing. The system noises were damped preparing two buffer chambers.     

稀释气对COIL输出功率的影响

 研究了稀释气进气位置、稀释比以及氮气、二氧化碳、氩气作为稀释气对kW级立式N₂-COIL输出功率的影响。结果表明：主稀释气从发生器进入,有利于输出功率的提高;从发生器出口进入,有利于激光器的稳定。采用不同的稀释气时,输出功率有很大的不同,但是随着稀释比的变化趋势几乎相同。以Ar作为稀释气可以降低超音速段的温度,提高小信号增益系数;据此优化设计激光器,可以提高激光器的输出功率和化学效率。以CO₂气体为稀释气的激光器在低温吸附方面却有着极大的吸引力。对于不同的实验目的和要求,应该选择不同的气体作为稀释气,充分利用气体自身的优势。     

Lasing on the resonance transition in sodium atoms under nonresonant optical excitation

Coherent emission on the 3P–3S resonance transition (D line) of nonresonantly excited sodium atoms in a buffer gas atmosphere is studied experimentally and theoretically. Both forward and backward coherent emission on the D lines is observed relative to the propagation direction of a pump beam whose frequency is blue-shifted from resonance. The divergence of the emitted radiation does not exceed that of the pump beam. The emission is due to the population inversion created on the “operating” transition when the pump is far detuned from resonance and the buffer gas pressure is sufficiently high. It is found that both emission intensity and the detuning range where this phenomenon is observed increase with the buffer gas pressure.