Dual-axis cubic cavity for drift-compensated multi-wavelength laser stabilisation.

Area of Science:

• Atomic, Molecular & Optical Physics
• Quantum Optics
• Metrology

Background:

• Strontium optical lattice clocks require highly stable laser frequencies for precision measurements.
• Existing laser stabilization techniques face challenges with long-term drift and complex setups.
• Space-based atomic clocks demand robust and compact stabilization systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a dual-axis cubic cavity (DACC) based clock control unit for laser frequency stabilization.
• To enable precise frequency control for auxiliary lasers in strontium optical lattice clocks.
• To develop a system suitable for space applications requiring high stability.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing a dual-axis cubic cavity (DACC) as a multi-band reference cavity.
• Implementing a feed-forward scheme to compensate for long-term cavity drift using orthogonal axes.
• Employing either a 698 nm clock laser or a single laser in common view for drift compensation.

Main Results:

• The DACC provides short-term stable reference for cooling, clear-out, and optical lattice lasers.
• Long-term cavity drift is effectively compensated through the feed-forward scheme.
• The system demonstrates potential for sub-Hertz linewidth stabilization at the 698 nm clock wavelength.

Conclusions:

• The DACC clock control unit offers a versatile solution for laser frequency stabilization in strontium optical lattice clocks.
• The developed system addresses key stabilization requirements, including suitability for space deployment.
• This technology paves the way for next-generation, high-precision atomic clocks.