Ultranarrow linewidth photonic-atomic laser

Area of Science:

• Physics
• Optical Engineering
• Atomic Physics

Background:

• High spectral purity lasers are crucial for applications like precision spectroscopy and quantum system manipulation.
• Traditional methods for reducing laser linewidth often involve large, benchtop Fabry-Perot cavities, limiting miniaturization.
• There's a growing need for compact, high-performance lasers suitable for ambient environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a miniaturized, robust laser system combining photonic and atomic elements.
• To achieve ultranarrow laser linewidths through a hybrid approach.
• To demonstrate high frequency stability and vibration immunity in a compact package.

Main Methods:

• Integration of a monolithic Fabry-Perot cavity (2.5 cm, 20,000 finesse) with a micromachined rubidium vapor cell.
• Leveraging the short-term stability of the cavity and long-term stability of atoms for frequency stabilization.
• Characterization of laser performance including fractional-frequency stability, integrated linewidth, and vibration immunity.

Main Results:

• Achieved fractional-frequency stability of 1 × 10^-13 at 20 ms and 7 × 10^-13 at 300 s.
• Demonstrated an integrated linewidth of 25 Hz and a frequency noise floor of 0.06 Hz²/Hz.
• Exhibited passive vibration immunity as low as 10^-10/g.

Conclusions:

• The developed photonic-atomic laser offers a compact and robust solution for ultranarrow-linewidth applications.
• Hybrid systems integrating monolithic photonic and atomic packages show promise for advanced laser technologies.
• This work paves the way for portable, high-performance laser systems for extended measurements in diverse conditions.