Precision photonic oscillator and method for generating an ultra-stable frequency reference using a two-photon rubidium transition
First Claim
1. An optical system, comprising:
- a frequency doubler configured to receive a stabilized laser output, and double a frequency of the stabilized laser output to form a frequency-doubled stabilized laser output;
a Rubidium cell configured to be interrogated by the frequency-doubled stabilized laser output to cause at least a two-photon Rubidium transition;
a detector configured to detect fluorescence resulting from spontaneous decay of the Rubidium transition.
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Abstract
Embodiments of an ultra-stable frequency reference generating system and methods for generating an ultra-stable frequency reference using a two-photon Rubidium transition are generally described herein. In some embodiments, a cavity-stabilized reference laser comprising a laser source is locked to a stabilized cavity. A Rubidium cell is interrogated by a stabilized laser output to cause at least a two-photon Rubidium transition and a detector may detect fluorescence resulting from spontaneous decay of the upper state Rubidium transition. The output of the detector is provided at a wavelength of the fluorescence to lock the cavity-stabilized reference laser to generate a stabilized laser output. A frequency comb stabilizer may be locked to the stabilized laser output to generate a super-continuum of optical wavelengths for use in generating an ultra-stable frequency reference.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An optical system, comprising:
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a frequency doubler configured to receive a stabilized laser output, and double a frequency of the stabilized laser output to form a frequency-doubled stabilized laser output; a Rubidium cell configured to be interrogated by the frequency-doubled stabilized laser output to cause at least a two-photon Rubidium transition; a detector configured to detect fluorescence resulting from spontaneous decay of the Rubidium transition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for generating an ultra-stable frequency reference comprising:
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locking a laser source to a stabilized cavity to generate a pre-stabilized laser output; further locking the laser source to a decay of a two-photon Rubidium transition to generate a stabilized laser output; and doubling a frequency of the stabilized laser output to generate a frequency-doubled stabilized laser output. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An optical system, comprising:
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a cavity-stabilized reference laser configured to produce a stabilized laser output; a frequency doubler configured to double a frequency of the stabilized laser output to form a frequency-doubled stabilized laser output; a Rubidium cell configured to receive the frequency-doubled stabilized laser output and produce fluorescence; and a detector positioned to detect the fluorescence. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification