Optical frequency generation using fiber Bragg grating filters for applications in portable quantum sensing.

Area of Science:

• Quantum Optics
• Laser Physics
• Atomic Physics

Background:

• Precise optical frequency control is crucial for laser cooling and atom interferometry.
• Existing methods for frequency generation can be slow or complex.
• Rubidium atoms are widely used in quantum technologies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate an agile method for generating optical frequencies for rubidium laser cooling and atom interferometry.
• To develop a compact and robust system suitable for various applications.
• To achieve fast frequency switching and high-fidelity amplitude modulation.

Main Methods:

• Utilized fiber Bragg grating technology to filter electro-optic modulator output.
• Implemented an alignment-free, single-seed, frequency-doubled fiber laser system.
• Characterized frequency switching speed, output power, and amplitude modulation performance.

Main Results:

• Achieved agile frequency generation over a 30 GHz range in under 40 ns.
• Demonstrated ∼0.5 W output power.
• Exhibited amplitude modulation with ∼15 ns rise/fall time and >80 dB extinction ratio.

Conclusions:

• The developed technology enables high-bandwidth, agile optical frequency generation.
• This method is suitable for mobile industrial and space-based quantum technology applications.
• The system's performance characteristics are ideal for advancing rubidium-based quantum experiments.