Cs microcell optical reference with frequency stability in the low 10 range at 1 s.

We describe a high-performance optical frequency reference based on dual-frequency sub-Doppler spectroscopy (DFSDS) using a Cs vapor microfabricated cell and an external-cavity diode laser at 895 nm. Measured against a reference optical signal extracted from a cavity-stabilized laser, the microcell-stabilized laser demonstrates an instability of 3 × 10 at 1 s, in agreement with a phase noise of +40 dBrad/Hz at 1-Hz offset frequency, and below 5 × 10 at 10 s. The laser short-term stability limit is in good agreement with the intermodulation effect from the laser frequency noise.

Pulsed-CPT Cs-Ne microcell atomic clock with frequency stability below 2 × 10 at 10 s.

We report on the mid-term stability progress of a table-top coherent population trapping (CPT) microcell atomic clock, previously limited by light-shift effects and variations of the cell's inner atmosphere. The light-shift contribution is now mitigated through the use of a pulsed symmetric auto-balanced Ramsey (SABR) interrogation technique, combined with setup temperature, laser power, and microwave power stabilization. In addition, Ne buffer gas pressure variations in the cell are now greatly reduced through the use of a micro-fabricated cell built with low permeation alumino-silicate glass (ASG) windows.

Wafer-level vapor cells filled with laser-actuated hermetic seals for integrated atomic devices.

Atomic devices such as atomic clocks and optically-pumped magnetometers rely on the interrogation of atoms contained in a cell whose inner content has to meet high standards of purity and accuracy. Glass-blowing techniques and craftsmanship have evolved over many decades to achieve such standards in macroscopic vapor cells. With the emergence of chip-scale atomic devices, the need for miniaturization and mass fabrication has led to the adoption of microfabrication techniques to make millimeter-scale vapor cells.

Exploring the Use of Ramsey-CPT Spectroscopy for a Microcell-Based Atomic Clock.

We investigate the application of Ramsey spectroscopy for the development of a microcell atomic clock based on coherent population trapping (CPT). The dependence of the central Ramsey-CPT fringe properties on key experimental parameters is first studied for optimization of the clock's short-term frequency stability. The sensitivity of the clock frequency to light-shift effects is then studied.

Mitigation of Temperature-Induced Light-Shift Effects in Miniaturized Atomic Clocks.

The demonstration of miniature atomic clocks (MACs) based on coherent population trapping (CPT) with improved mid- and long-term frequency stability benefits from the implementation of additional stabilization loops to reduce temperature-induced light-shift effects. In this article, we report and highlight the individual and combined benefits of such servo loops on the frequency stability of a CPT-based MAC. The first loop stabilizes the actual temperature of the vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) chip using a compensation method in which the reading of external temperature variations is derived from the atomic vapor output signal.

Analytical Expressions of the Dark Resonance Parameters in a Vacuum Vapor Cell.

This paper reports a dedicated theoretical and experimental study on the properties (signal amplitude and linewidth) of coherent population trapping resonances detected in vacuum vapor cells. Results are presented for conventional single-lambda schemes of atomic energy levels but also for double-lambda schemes, now widely used in various applications including atomic clocks and magnetometers. Approximate compact analytical expressions, valid for a wide range of light-wave intensities, i.

Characterization of commercially available vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers tuned on Cs D line at 894.6 nm for miniature atomic clocks.

We report on the metrological characterization of novel commercially available 894.6 nm vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs), dedicated to Cs D line spectroscopy experiments. The thermal behavior of the VCSELs is reported, highlighting the existence of a minimum threshold current and maximum output power in the 55°C-60°C range.

Doppler-free spectroscopy on the Cs D line with a dual-frequency laser.

We report on Doppler-free laser spectroscopy in a Cs vapor cell using a dual-frequency laser system tuned on the Cs D line. Using counter-propagating beams with crossed linear polarizations, an original sign reversal of the usual saturated absorption dip and large increase in Doppler-free atomic absorption is observed. This phenomenon is explained by coherent population trapping (CPT) effects.

Laser light routing in an elongated micromachined vapor cell with diffraction gratings for atomic clock applications.

This paper reports on an original architecture of microfabricated alkali vapor cell designed for miniature atomic clocks. The cell combines diffraction gratings with anisotropically etched single-crystalline silicon sidewalls to route a normally-incident beam in a cavity oriented along the substrate plane. Gratings have been specifically designed to diffract circularly polarized light in the first order, the latter having an angle of diffraction matching the (111) sidewalls orientation.