3,364 research outputs found
Atom Interferometry with up to 24-Photon-Momentum-Transfer Beam Splitters
We present up to 24-photon Bragg diffraction as a beam splitter in
light-pulse atom interferometers to achieve the largest splitting in momentum
space so far. Relative to the 2-photon processes used in the most sensitive
present interferometers, these large momentum transfer beam splitters increase
the phase shift 12-fold for Mach-Zehnder (MZ-) and 144-fold for Ramsey-Borde
(RB-) geometries. We achieve a high visibility of the interference fringes (up
to 52% for MZ or 36% for RB) and long pulse separation times that are possible
only in atomic fountain setups. As the atom's internal state is not changed,
important systematic effects can cancel.Comment: New introduction. 4 pages, 4 figure
Extended cavity diode lasers with tracked resonances
We present a painless, almost-free upgrade to present extended cavity diode
lasers (ECDLs), which improves the long term mode-hop free performance by
stabilizing the resonance of the internal cavity to the external cavity. This
stabilization is based on the observation that the frequency or amplitude noise
of the ECDL is lowest at the optimum laser diode temperature or injection
current. Thus, keeping the diode current at the level where the noise is lowest
ensures mode-hop free operation within one of the stable regions of the mode
chart, even if these should drift due to external influences. This method can
be applied directly to existing laser systems without modifying the optical
setup. We demonstrate the method in two ECDLs stabilized to vapor cells at 852
nm and 895 nm wavelength. We achieve long term mode-hop free operation and low
noise at low power consumption, even with an inexpensive non-antireflection
coated diode.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figure
Phase-Locked, Low-Noise, Frequency Agile Titanium: Sapphire Lasers for Simultaneous Atom Interferometers
We demonstrate phase lock of two >1.6W Titanium:sapphire lasers with a phase
noise of -138dBc/Hz at 1MHz from the carrier, using an intra-cavity
electro-optic phase modulator. The residual phase variance is 2.5 10^(-8)rad^2
integrated from 1Hz to 10kHz. Instantaneous offset frequency steps of up to
4MHz are achieved within 200ns. Simultaneous atom interferometers can make full
use of this ultra-low phase noise in differential measurements by suppressing
common influences from vibration of optics.Comment: Additional phase-noise data and references; to appear in Optics
Letters. 3 pages, 4 figure
Nanosecond electro-optical switching with a repetition rate above 20MHz
We describe an electro-optical switch based on a commercial electro-optic
modulator (modified for high-speed operation) and a 340V pulser having a rise
time of 2.2ns (at 250V). It can produce arbitrary pulse patterns with an
average repetition rate beyond 20MHz. It uses a grounded-grid triode driven by
transmitting power transistors. We discuss variations that enable analog
operation, use the step-recovery effect in bipolar transistors, or offer other
combinations of output voltage, size, and cost.Comment: 3 pages, 3 figures. Minor change
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