Ramsey CPT Signal Generation with a Miniature Clock Bench and a Dual-Frequency Optical Generator

We demonstrate, for the first time, Ramsey CPT spectroscopy with a miniature electro-optical bench associated to a dual-frequency generator based on combined optical injection locking and optical phase locking techniques Preliminary results show Ramsey CPT resonance with a contrast of 2% at the Cesium D2 line. Frequency difference locking loops lead to a contribution of Dick effect to fractional frequency stability lower than 1.7x10-13 at 1 s, in line with targeted clock stability of 5x10-13 at 1 s

Tunable Single-frequency operation of a diode-pumped Vertical-External Cavity Laser at the Caesium D2 line

International audienceWe report on a diode-pumped vertical external-cavity surface-emitting laser emitting around 852 nm for Cesium atomic clocks experiments. We have designed a 7-quantum-well semiconductor structure optimized for low laser threshold. An output power of 330 mW was achieved for 1.1 W of incident pump power. Furthermore a compact setup was built for low-power single-requency emission. We obtained an output power of 17 mW in a single longitudinal mode, exhibiting both broad (9 nm) and continuous (14 GHz) tunability around the Cesium D2 line. The laser frequency has been stabilized on an atomic transition with residual frequency fluctuations ~ 300 kHz. Through a beatnote experiment the -3 dB laser linewidth has been measured to < 500 kHz over 10 ms

COMPACT AND ROBUST SINGLE-FREQUENCY DIODE-PUMPED VECSEL AT THE CESIUM D2 LINE FOR ATOMIC CLOCKS

This work reports on an optically-pumped vertical external-cavity surface­emitting laser emitting around 852 nm dedicated to atomic physics experiments with cold Cs atoms. The design of the semiconductor active structure has been optimized to provide a low threshold. A low-power diode-pumped compact prototype has been developed with improved stability. With this setup, we obtained a 17-mW single frequency emission exhibiting large tunability around the Cesium D2 line. The laser linewidth has been measured to less than 500 kHz on a 10 ms time

Coherent dual-frequency emission of a vertical external-cavity semiconductor laser at the cesium D2 line

International audienceWe describe the dual-frequency and dual-polarization emission of a diode-pumped vertical external-cavity semiconductor laser at 852 nm dedicated to the coherent population trapping of cesium atoms. The output power reaches ∼20 mW on each frequency, with a frequency difference in the GHz range

Dual frequency emission in a compact semiconductor laser for coherent population trapping cesium atomic clocks

We present the dual-frequency emission of a diode-pumped vertical external-cavity semiconductor laser at 852 nm dedicated to coherent population trapping experiments. With a compact cavity more than 10mW is demonstrated in each polarization, with a frequency difference in the GHz range. One polarization has been stabilized on an atomic transitio

Single-frequency diode-pumped semiconductor laser tuned on a Cs transition

Diode-pumped semiconductor lasers have already demonstrated high powers in circular diffraction-limited output beams and single-frequency laser emission. Our work is focused on the design of a laser structure suitable for Cesium (Cs) atomic clock experiments that could merge both properties

Emission bifréquence d'un laser à semiconducteur en cavité externe à 852 nm pour les horloges atomiques a césium (orale)

National audienceNous décrivons l'émission simultanée en phase, sur deux fréquences optiques polarisées perpendiculairement, d'un laser à semiconducteur en cavité externe pompé optiquement. L'émission est accordable autour de la raie D2 du césium à 852,14 nm avec une puissance optique d'environ 13 mW sur chaque polarisation. La différence de fréquence est ajustée grâce à un modulateur électro-optique autour de 9,2 GHz. Nous évaluons la source réalisée en vue de son application au piégeage cohérent de population d'atomes de césium dans une horloge atomique

Tunable high-purity microwave signal generation from a dual-frequency VECSEL at 852 nm (orale)

International audienceWe demonstrate the dual-frequency emission of a diode-pumped vertical external-cavity semiconductor laser operating at 852 nm, dedicated to the coherent population trapping of cesium atoms for compact atomic frequency references. It is based on a single laser cavity sustaining the oscillation of two adjacent, cross-polarized, modes. The output power reaches 10 mW on each frequency. The frequency difference and the absolute laser frequencies are simultaneously precisely tuned and stabilized on external references, resulting in the generation of a high-purity optically-carried microwave signal. The laser design has focused on stability and compactness

Generation of high purity microwave signal from a dual-frequency OP-VECSEL (orale)

International audienceCoherent population trapping (CPT) is an interesting technique for the development of compact atomic frequency references. We describe an innovating laser source for the production of the two cross-polarized coherent laser fields which are necessary in CPT-based atomic clocks. It relies on the dual-frequency and dual-polarization operation of an optically-pumped vertical external-cavity semiconductor laser. This particular laser emission is induced by intracavity birefringent components which produce a controllable phase anisotropy within the laser cavity and force emission on two cross-polarized longitudinal modes. The laser emission is tuned at the Cs D2 line (λ = 852.14 nm), and the frequency difference ∆ν between the two laser modes is tunable in the microwave range. The laser line wavelength is stabilized onto an atomic hyperfine transition, and concurrently the frequency difference is locked to an ultra-low noise RF oscillator at 9.2 GHz. The high spectral purity of the optically-carried microwave signal resulting from the beatnote of the two cross-polarized laser lines is assessed through its narrow spectral linewidth (<30 Hz) as well as its low phase noise (≤ -100 dBrad2/Hz). The performance of this laser source is already adequate for the interrogation of atoms in a CPT atomic clock, and should result in an estimated relative stability of 3.10-13τ-1/2 - one order of magnitude better than commercial atomic clocks