1,192 research outputs found
Minimizing the Dick Effect in an Optical Lattice Clock
We discuss the minimization of the Dick effect in an optical lattice clock.
We show that optimizing the time sequence of operation of the clock can lead to
a significant reduction of the clock stability degradation by the frequency
noise of the interrogation laser. By using a non-destructive detection of the
atoms, we are able to recycle most of the atoms between cycles and consequently
to strongly reduce the time spent capturing the atoms in each cycle. With
optimized parameters, we expect a fractional Allan deviation better than
2E-16 for the lattice clock.Comment: 6 pages, 10 figures. Submitted to IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics,
Ferroelectrics, and Frequency Contro
Laser Spectroscopy in HollowâCore Fibers: Principles and Applications
The development of hollowâcore photonic crystal fiber (HCâPCF) technology over the past decade has opened up a vast array of possibilities for new applications. When the hollow core is filled with gas, the HCâPCF is ideal for molecular spectroscopy applications that require long path length interaction. When light is coupled into the HCâPCF, the overlap between light and the molecules inside the hollow core is excellent all along the length of the fiber, which can be hundreds of meters long. Coiling the fiber up provides a compact, lowâweight gas cell at the same time featuring a high level of interaction between laser light coupled through the fiber and the molecules inside
Non-destructive measurement of the transition probability in a Sr optical lattice clock
We present the experimental demonstration of non-destructive probing of the
1S0-3P0 clock transition probability in an optical lattice clock with 87Sr
atoms. It is based on the phase shift induced by the atoms on a weak
off-resonant laser beam. The method we propose is a differential measurement of
this phase shift on two modulation sidebands with opposite detuning with
respect to the 1S0-1P1 transition, allowing a detection limited by the photon
shot noise. We have measured an atomic population of 10^4 atoms with a signal
to noise ratio of 100 per cycle, while keeping more than 95% of the atoms in
the optical lattice with a depth of 0.1 mK. The method proves simple and robust
enough to be operated as part of the whole clock setup. This detection scheme
enables us to reuse atoms for subsequent clock state interrogations,
dramatically reducing the loading time and thereby improving the clock
frequency stability.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure
The Laser of the ALICE Time Projection Chamber
The large TPC () of the ALICE detector at the CERN LHC was
commissioned in summer 2006. The first tracks were observed both from the
cosmic ray muons and from the laser rays injected into the TPC. In this article
the basic principles of operating the lasers are presented,
showing the installation and adjustment of the optical system and describing
the control system. To generate the laser tracks, a wide laser beam is split
into several hundred narrow beams by fixed micro-mirrors at stable and known
positions throughout the TPC. In the drift volume, these narrow beams generate
straight tracks at many angles. Here we describe the generation of the first
tracks and compare them with simulations.Comment: QM06 poster proceedings, 6 pages, 4 figure
Observation of Motion Dependent Nonlinear Dispersion with Narrow Linewidth Atoms in an Optical Cavity
As an alternative to state-of-the-art laser frequency stabilisation using
ultra-stable cavities, it has been proposed to exploit the non-linear effects
from coupling of atoms with a narrow transition to an optical cavity. Here we
have constructed such a system and observed non-linear phase shifts of a narrow
optical line by strong coupling of a sample of strontium-88 atoms to an optical
cavity. The sample temperature of a few mK provides a domain where the Doppler
energy scale is several orders of magnitude larger than the narrow linewidth of
the optical transition. This makes the system sensitive to velocity dependent
multi-photon scattering events (Dopplerons) that affect the cavity field
transmission and phase. By varying the number of atoms and the intra-cavity
power we systematically study this non-linear phase signature which displays
roughly the same features as for much lower temperature samples. This
demonstration in a relatively simple system opens new possibilities for
alternative routes to laser stabilization at the sub 100 mHz level and
superradiant laser sources involving narrow line atoms. The understanding of
relevant motional effects obtained here has direct implications for other
atomic clocks when used in relation with ultranarrow clock transitions.Comment: 9 pages (including 4 pages of Supplemental Information), 6 figures.
Updated to correspond to the published versio
Non-linear Spectroscopy of Sr Atoms in an Optical Cavity for Laser Stabilization
We study the non-linear interaction of a cold sample of strontium-88 atoms
coupled to a single mode of a low finesse optical cavity in the so-called bad
cavity limit and investigate the implications for applications to laser
stabilization. The atoms are probed on the weak inter-combination line \lvert
5s^{2} \, ^1 \textrm{S}_0 \rangle \,-\, \lvert 5s5p \, ^3 \textrm{P}_1 \rangle
at 689 nm in a strongly saturated regime. Our measured observables include the
atomic induced phase shift and absorption of the light field transmitted
through the cavity represented by the complex cavity transmission coefficient.
We demonstrate high signal-to-noise-ratio measurements of both quadratures -
the cavity transmitted phase and absorption - by employing FM spectroscopy
(NICE-OHMS). We also show that when FM spectroscopy is employed in connection
with a cavity locked to the probe light, observables are substantially modified
compared to the free space situation where no cavity is present. Furthermore,
the non-linear dynamics of the phase dispersion slope is experimentally
investigated and the optimal conditions for laser stabilization are
established. Our experimental results are compared to state-of-the-art cavity
QED theoretical calculations.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figure
Ultrastable lasers based on vibration insensitive cavities
We present two ultra-stable lasers based on two vibration insensitive cavity
designs, one with vertical optical axis geometry, the other horizontal.
Ultra-stable cavities are constructed with fused silica mirror substrates,
shown to decrease the thermal noise limit, in order to improve the frequency
stability over previous designs. Vibration sensitivity components measured are
equal to or better than 1.5e-11 per m.s^-2 for each spatial direction, which
shows significant improvement over previous studies. We have tested the very
low dependence on the position of the cavity support points, in order to
establish that our designs eliminate the need for fine tuning to achieve
extremely low vibration sensitivity. Relative frequency measurements show that
at least one of the stabilized lasers has a stability better than 5.6e-16 at 1
second, which is the best result obtained for this length of cavity.Comment: 8 pages 12 figure
Experimenting an optical second with strontium lattice clocks
Progress in realizing the SI second had multiple technological impacts and
enabled to further constraint theoretical models in fundamental physics.
Caesium microwave fountains, realizing best the second according to its current
definition with a relative uncertainty of 2-4x10^(-16), have already been
superseded by atomic clocks referenced to an optical transition, both more
stable and more accurate. Are we ready for a new definition of the second? Here
we present an important step in this direction: our system of five clocks
connects with an unprecedented consistency the optical and the microwave
worlds. For the first time, two state-of-the-art strontium optical lattice
clocks are proven to agree within their accuracy budget, with a total
uncertainty of 1.6x10^(-16). Their comparison with three independent caesium
fountains shows a degree of reproducibility henceforth solely limited at the
level of 3.1x10^(-16) by the best realizations of the microwave-defined second.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures, 2 table
Lattice Induced Frequency Shifts in Sr Optical Lattice Clocks at the Level
We present a comprehensive study of the frequency shifts associated with the
lattice potential for a Sr lattice clock. By comparing two such clocks with a
frequency stability reaching after a one hour integration
time, and varying the lattice depth up to with being the
recoil energy, we evaluate lattice related shifts with an unprecedented
accuracy. We put the first experimental upper bound on the recently predicted
frequency shift due to the magnetic dipole (M1) and electric quadrupole (E2)
interactions. This upper bound is significantly smaller than the theoretical
upper limit. We also give a new upper limit on the effect of
hyperpolarizability with an improvement by more than one order of magnitude.
Finally, we report the first observation of the vector and tensor shifts in a
lattice clock. Combining these measurements, we show that all known lattice
related perturbation will not affect the clock accuracy down to the
level, even for very deep lattices, up to
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