Frequency stability of a wavelength meter and applications to laser frequency stabilization

Interferometric wavelength meters have attained frequency resolutions down to the MHz range. In particular, Fizeau interferometers, which have no moving parts, are becoming a popular tool for laser characterization and stabilization. In this article, we characterize such a wavelength meter using an ultra-stable laser in terms of relative frequency instability $\sigma_y(\tau)$ and demonstrate that it can achieve a short-term instability $\sigma_y(1 s) \approx 2{\times}10^{-10}$ and a frequency drift of order $10$ MHz/day. We use this apparatus to demonstrate frequency control of a near-infrared laser, where a frequency instability below $3{\times}10^{-10}$ from 1 s to 2000 s is achieved. Such performance is for example adequate for ions trapping and atoms cooling experiments.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Compact Yb+^+ optical atomic clock project: design principle and current status

We present the design of a compact optical clock based on the $^2S_{1/2} \rightarrow ^2D_{3/2}$ 435.5 nm transition in $^{171}$Yb$^+$. The ion trap will be based on a micro-fabricated circuit, with surface electrodes generating a trapping potential to localize a single Yb ion a few hundred $\mu$m from the electrodes. We present our trap design as well as simulations of the resulting trapping pseudo-potential. We also present a compact, multi-channel wavelength meter that will permit the frequency stabilization of the cooling, repumping and clear-out lasers at 369.5 nm, 935.2 nm and 638.6 nm needed to cool the ion. We use this wavelength meter to characterize and stabilize the frequency of extended cavity diode lasers at 369.5 nm and 638.6 nm.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures. Proc. of the 8th FSM 2015, Potsdam, Germany. To be published in IOP Journal of Physics: Conference Serie

Digital Doppler-cancellation servo for ultra-stable optical frequency dissemination over fiber

Progress made in optical references, including ultra-stable Fabry-Perot cavities, optical frequency combs and optical atomic clocks, have driven the need for ultra-stable optical fiber networks. Telecom-wavelength ultra-pure optical signal transport has been demonstrated on distances ranging from the laboratory scale to the continental scale. In this manuscript, we present a Doppler-cancellation setup based on a digital phase-locked loop for ultra-stable optical signal dissemination over fiber. The optical phase stabilization setup is based on a usual heterodyne Michelson-interferometer setup, while the Software Defined Radio (SDR) implementation of the phase-locked loop is based on a compact commercial board embedding a field programmable gate array, analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters. Using three different configurations including an undersampling method, we demonstrate a 20 m long fiber link with residual fractional frequency instability as low as $10^{-18}$ at 1000 s, and an optical phase noise of $-70$ dBc/Hz at 1 Hz with a telecom frequency carrier.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figure

Développement d'une horloge atomique sur puce à atomes : optimisation de la durée de cohérence et caractérisation préliminaire.

We describe the construction and preliminary characterisation of an atomic clock on an atom chip. A sample of magnetically trapped 87Rb atoms is cooled below 1 µK, where Bose-Einstein condensation can take place. The trapped states |F,mF=|1,-1 and |2,1 define our clock transition, which is a two-photon – microwave and RF – transition. Atoms are trapped around a field B0 = 3.23 G for which there is only a second-order Zeeman shift of the clock frequency, which reduces the sensitivity of the clock to magnetic field fluctuations. We have designed an atom chip that includes a microwave coplanar waveguide which drives the 6.835 GHz transition. The whole clock cycle is performed in the vicinity of the chip surface, making the physics package compact (5 cm)3 . We first describe the experimental setup of the clock, and the optical bench that has been developed and characterised during this thesis. We then give the results obtained for atom cooling, which led to obtaining a 3 104 atoms Bose-Einstein condensate. We finally present the results obtained by Ramsey spectroscopy of the clock transition. We measure coherence times exceeding 10 seconds with our setup, dominated by atom losses. The decoherence by dephasing due to the inhomogeneous trapping potential is negligible for our experimental parameters, contrarily to what one could expect. A preliminary measurement shows that the clock relative frequency stability is of 6 10-12 at 1 s, and is limited by technical. Our goal is to reach a stability in the low 10-13 at 1s, i.e. better than commercial clocks and competitive with today's best compact clocks.Nous décrivons la construction et la caractérisation préliminaire d'une horloge atomique sur puce à atomes, visant une stabilité de quelques 10-13 à 1s. La transition d'horloge est définie par la transition micro-onde à deux photons entre les niveaux |F=1,mF=-1> et |F=2,mF=1> du 87Rb, qui peuvent être piégés magnétiquement. Une puce à atomes permet de générer le piège magnétique et de refroidir les atomes par évaporation forcée à une température de quelques centaines de nK, pouvant atteindre la température de condensation de Bose-Einstein. Le signal micro-onde de spectroscopie est couplé aux atomes à l'aide d'un guide d'onde coplanaire intégré à la puce ; l'ensemble du cycle d'horloge est donc effectué dans un volume réduit de (5 cm)3. Nous décrivons tout d'abord le dispositif expérimental permettant de mettre en oeuvre l'ensemble du cycle d'horloge, et notamment le banc optique développé et caractérisé dans le cadre de cette thèse. Nous présentons ensuite les résultats obtenus en terme de refroidissement atomique, qui se traduisent par l'obtention de condensats de Bose-Einstein de 3 104 atomes. Nous présentons enfin les résultats obtenus par spectroscopie de Ramsey de la transition d'horloge. Nous mesurons une durée de cohérence supérieure à 10 secondes, dominée par les pertes atomiques et non par le déphasage introduit par le piège magnétique, comme on aurait pu s'y attendre. Avec une durée de Ramsey de 3 secondes, la première évaluation de la stabilité de l'horloge donne 6 10-12 à 1 s, limitée par le bruit technique du dispositif. L'objectif est d'atteindre une stabilité de l'ordre de 10-13 à 1s, meilleure que celle des horloges commerciales actuelles

Preliminary results of the trapped atom clock on a chip

International audienceWe present an atomic clock based on the interrogation of magnetically trapped <sup>87</sup>Rb atoms. Two photons, in the microwave and radiofrequency domain, excite the clock transition. At a magnetic field of 3.23 G the clock transition from |F = 1, m<sub>F</sub> = -1¿ to |F = 2, m<sub>F</sub> = 1¿ is 1st-order insensitive to magnetic field variations. Ramsey interrogation times longer than 2 s can be achieved, leading to a projected clock stability in the low 10<sup>-13</sup> at 1 s for a cloud of 10<sup>5</sup> atoms. We use an atom chip to cool and trap the atoms. A coplanar waveguide is integrated to the chip to carry the Ramsey interrogation signal, making the physics package as small as (5 cm)<sup>3</sup>. We describe the experimental setup and show preliminary Ramsey fringes of line width 1.25 Hz

Photonic Generation of High Power, Ultrastable Microwave Signals by Vernier Effect in a Femtosecond Laser Frequency Comb

Abstract Optical frequency division of an ultrastable laser to the microwave frequency range by an optical frequency comb has allowed the generation of microwave signals with unprecedently high spectral purity and stability. However, the generated microwave signal will suffer from a very low power level if no external optical frequency comb repetition rate multiplication device is used. This paper reports theoretical and experimental studies on the beneficial use of the Vernier effect together with the spectral selective filtering in a double directional coupler add-drop optical fibre ring resonator to increase the comb repetition rate and generate high power microwaves. The studies are focused on two selective filtering aspects: the high rejection of undesirable optical modes of the frequency comb and the transmission of the desirable modes with the lowest possible loss. Moreover, the conservation of the frequency comb stability and linewidth at the resonator output is particularly considered. Accordingly, a fibre ring resonator is designed, fabricated, and characterized, and a technique to stabilize the resonator’s resonance comb is proposed. A significant power gain is achieved for the photonically generated beat note at 10 GHz. Routes to highly improve the performances of such proof-of-concept device are also discussed

Compact frequency standard using atoms trapped on a chip

International audienceWe present a compact atomic frequency standard based on the interrogation of magnetically trapped 87Rb atoms. Two photons, in the microwave and radiofrequency domain excite the atomic transition. At a magnetic field of 3.23 G this transition from |F = 1, mF = -1> to |F = 2, mF = 1> is 1st order insensitive to magnetic field variations. Long Ramsey interrogation times can thus be achieved, leading to a projected stability in the low 10-13 at 1 s. This makes this device a viable alternative to LITE and HORACE as a good candidate for replacing or complementing the rubidium frequency standards and passive hydrogen masers already on board of the GPS, GLONASS, and GALILEO satellites. Here we present preliminary results. We use an atom chip to cool and trap the atoms. A coplanar waveguide is integrated to the chip to carry the Ramsey interrogation signal, making the physics package potentially as small as (5 cm)3. We describe the experimental apparatus and show preliminary Ramsey fringes of 1.25 Hz linewidth. We also show a preliminary frequency stability sigmay = 1.5 × 10-12tau-1/2 for 10 3 s. This represents one order of magnitude improvement with respect to previous experiments

Digital Doppler-cancellation servo for ultra-stable optical frequency dissemination over fiber

International audienceProgress made in optical references, including ultra-stable Fabry-Perot cavities, optical frequency combs and optical atomic clocks, have driven the need for ultra-stable optical fiber networks. Telecom-wavelength ultra-pure optical signal transport has been demonstrated on distances ranging from the laboratory scale to the continental scale. In this manuscript, we present a Doppler-cancellation setup based on a digital phase-locked loop for ultra-stable optical signal dissemination over fiber. The optical phase stabilization setup is based on a usual heterodyne Michelson-interferometer setup, while the Software Defined Radio (SDR) implementation of the phase-locked loop is based on a compact commercial board embedding a field programmable gate array, analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters. Using three different configurations including an undersampling method, we demonstrate a 20 m long fiber link with residual fractional frequency instability as low as $10^{-18}$ at 1000 s, and an optical phase noise of $-70$ dBc/Hz at 1 Hz with a telecom frequency carrier