Voici les éléments 1 - 10 sur 21
  • Publication
    Métadonnées seulement
    Optically-detected spin-echo method for relaxation times measurements in a Rb atomic vapor
    (2017-6-26) ; ; ; ;
    Jelenkovic, Branislav
    ;
    Radojicic, I.S
    ;
    Krmpot, A.
    Weintroduce and demonstrate an experimental method, optically-detected spin-echo (ODSE), to measure ground-state relaxation times of a rubidium (Rb) atomic vapor held in a glass cell with buffergas. The work is motivated by our studies on high-performance Rb atomic clocks, where both population and coherence relaxation times (T1 and T2, respectively) of the ‘clock transition’ (52S1/2 ∣Fg = 1, mF = 0ñ « ∣Fg = 2, mF = 0ñ) are relevant.OurODSEmethod is inspired by classical nuclear magnetic resonance spin-echo method, combined with optical detection. In contrast to other existing methods, like continuous-wave double-resonance (CW-DR) and Ramsey-DR, principles of the ODSE method allow suppression of decoherence arising from the inhomogeneity of the static magnetic field across the vapor cell, thus enabling measurements of intrinsic relaxation rates, as properties of the cell alone. Our experimental result for the coherence relaxation time, specific for the clock transition, measured with the ODSE method is in good agreement with the theoretical prediction, and the ODSE results are validated by comparison to those obtained with Franzen,CWDRand Ramsey-DR methods. The method is of interest for a wide variety of quantum optics experiments with optical signal readout.
  • Publication
    Accès libre
    High performance vapour-cell frequency standards
    We report our investigations on a compact high-performance rubidium (Rb) vapour-cell clock based on microwave-optical double-resonance (DR). These studies are done in both DR continuous-wave (CW) and Ramsey schemes using the same Physics Package (PP), with the same Rb vapour cell and a magnetron-type cavity with only 45 cm3 external volume. In the CW-DR scheme, we demonstrate a DR signal with a contrast of 26% and a linewidth of 334 Hz; in Ramsey-DR mode Ramsey signals with higher contrast up to 35% and a linewidth of 160 Hz have been demonstrated. Short-term stabilities of 1.4×10-13 τ-1/2 and 2.4×10-13 τ-1/2 are measured for CW-DR and Ramsey-DR schemes, respectively. In the Ramsey-DR operation, thanks to the separation of light and microwave interactions in time, the light-shift effect has been suppressed which allows improving the long-term clock stability as compared to CW-DR operation. Implementations in miniature atomic clocks are considered.
  • Publication
    Métadonnées seulement
    High performance vapour-cell frequency standards
    We report our investigations on a compact high-performance rubidium (Rb) vapour-cell clock based on microwave-optical double-resonance (DR). These studies are done in both DR continuous-wave (CW) and Ramsey schemes using the same Physics Package (PP), with the same Rb vapour cell and a magnetron-type cavity with only 45 cm3 external volume. In the CW-DR scheme, we demonstrate a DR signal with a contrast of 26% and a linewidth of 334 Hz; in Ramsey-DR mode Ramsey signals with higher contrast up to 35% and a linewidth of 160 Hz have been demonstrated. Short-term stabilities of 1.4×10^-13 τ^-1/2 and 2.4×10^-13 τ^-1/2 are measured for CW-DR and Ramsey-DR schemes, respectively. In the Ramsey-DR operation, thanks to the separation of light and microwave interactions in time, the light-shift effect has been suppressed which allows improving the long-term clock stability as compared to CW-DR operation. Implementations in miniature atomic clocks are considered.
  • Publication
    Métadonnées seulement
    Aging studies on micro-fabricated alkali buffer-gas cells for miniature atomic clocks
    We report an aging study on micro-fabricated alkali vapor cells using neon as a buffer gas. An experimental atomic clock setup is used to measure the cell's intrinsic frequency, by recording the clock frequency shift at different light intensities and extrapolating to zero intensity. We find a drift of the cell's intrinsic frequency of (−5.2 ± 0.6) × 10−11/day and quantify deterministic variations in sources of clock frequency shifts due to the major physical effects to identify the most probable cause of the drift. The measured drift is one order of magnitude stronger than the total frequency variations expected from clock parameter variations and corresponds to a slow reduction of buffer gas pressure inside the cell, which is compatible with the hypothesis of loss of Ne gas from the cell due to its permeation through the cell windows. A negative drift on the intrinsic cell frequency is reproducible for another cell of the same type. Based on the Ne permeation model and the measured cell frequency drift, we determine the permeation constant of Ne through borosilicate glass as (5.7 ± 0.7) × 10−22 m2 s−1 Pa−1 at 81 °C. We propose this method based on frequency metrology in an alkali vapor cell atomic clock setup based on coherent population trapping for measuring permeation constants of inert gases. The authors gratefully acknowledge fruitful discussions with M. Pellaton (Université de Neuchâtel) and S. Karlen (CSEM SA, Neuchâtel, Switzerland) on buffer gas permeation, Y. Pétremand (CSEM) for providing the vapor cells, and D. Varidel (Université de Neuchâtel) for support with the H-maser reference. This work was funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (FNS) and co-financed by the Swiss Commission for Technology and Innovation (CTI)
  • Publication
    Accès libre
    Demonstration of a high-performance pulsed optically pumped Rb clock based on a compact magnetron-type microwave cavity
    We demonstrate a high-performance pulsed optically pumped (POP) Rb vapor-cell clock based on a magnetron-type microwave cavity of only 44 cm3 external volume. Using optical detection, an unprecedented 35% contrast of the Ramsey signal has been obtained. Both the signal-to-noise ratio (of 30 000) and the estimated shot-noise limit of 1.7 × 10−14 τ−1/2 are at the same level as those found with a bigger cylindrical TE011 cavity (100 cm3 inner volume) and are sufficient for achieving excellent clock stability. Rabi oscillations are measured and indicate a sufficiently uniform microwave magnetic field distribution inside the cavity. The instability sources for the POP clock's performance are analyzed. A short-term stability of 2.1 × 10−13 τ−1/2 is demonstrated which is consistent with the noise budget.
  • Publication
    Accès libre
    Metrological characterization of custom-designed 894.6 nm VCSELs for miniature atomic clocks
    (2013-11-8) ;
    Al-Samaneh, Ahmed
    ;
    Kroemer, Eric
    ;
    Bimboes, Laura
    ;
    ; ;
    Wahl, Dietmar
    ;
    Boudot, Rodolphe
    ;
    ;
    Michalzik, Rainer
  • Publication
    Accès libre
    A miniature frequency-stabilized VCSEL system emitting at 795nm based on LTCC modules
    (2013-11-8) ;
    Vecchio, Fabrizio
    ;
    ;
    Pétremand, Yves
    ;
    De Rooij, Nicolaas-F.
    ;
    Maeder, Thomas
    ;
  • Publication
    Métadonnées seulement
    Pulsed Optically Pumped Rubidium Clock With High Frequency-Stability Performance
    (2012-4-3)
    Micalizio, Salvatore
    ;
    Godone, Aldo
    ;
    Calosso, Claudio
    ;
    Levi, Filippo
    ;
    ;
    In this paper, we present the performance of a vapor-cell rubidium frequency standard working in the pulsed regime, in which the clock signal is represented by a Ramsey pattern observed on an optically detected laser absorption signal. The main experimental results agree with previously reported theoretical predictions. In particular, we measured a relative frequency stability of σy(τ) ≈ 1.6 × 10^−13 τ^−1/2 for integration times, τ, up to 200 s, which represents a record in short-term stability for a vapor-cell clock. We also discuss the most important physical phenomena that contribute to this result.
  • Publication
    Accès libre
    Evaluation of the frequency stability of a VCSEL locked to a micro-fabricated Rubidium vapour cell
    (2010)
    Di Francesco, Joab F.
    ;
    ; ; ; ; ;
    Salvadé, Y.
    ;
    de Rooij, Nicolaas F.
    ;
    Petremand, Y.
    We present our evaluation of a compact laser system made of a 795 nm VCSEL locked to the Rubidium absorption line of a micro-fabricated absorption cell. The spectrum of the VCSEL was characterised, including its RIN, FM noise and line-width. We optimised the signal-to-noise ratio and determined the frequency shifts versus the cell temperature and the incident optical power. The frequency stability of the laser (Allan deviation) was measured using a high-resolution wavemeter and an ECDL-based reference. Our results show that a fractional instability of ≥ 10-9 may be reached at any timescale between 1 and 100'000 s. The MEMS cell was realised by dispensing the Rubidium in a glass-Silicon preform which was then, sealed by anodic bonding. The overall thickness of the reference cell is 1.5 mm. No buffer gas was added. The potential applications of this compact and low-consumption system range from optical interferometers to basic laser spectroscopy. It is particularly attractive for mobile and space instruments where stable and accurate wavelength references are needed.