SBIR-STTR Award

We propose to combine distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) laser diodes with novel sideband locking schemes, MEMS atomic vapor cells, and offset phase locking to produce compact frequency-agile laser systems capable of autonomous operation on spaced-based platforms and remote environments. A master laser will output up to 40 mW of usable power and be locked to an atomic vapor cell forming an absolute wavelength reference on board the satellite. The slave laser will be offset locked to the master laser with agile detuning capability of up to ±10 GHz, and with output power up to 200 mW using a DBR tapered laser or MOPA. By adding RF sidebands, the master laser can be used without a slave by virtue of a novel offset locking technique enabling production of cold-atom samples with a single laser. In phase I we will study the long-term aging characteristics of DBR diodes and their effects on long-term locking. We will also demonstrate novel sideband locking that can be used to eliminate the slave laser. In Phase II the laser system will be packaged into hermetic butterfly packages including MEMS atomic reference cells. Electronics drivers will enable completely autonomous operation

Benefit:
High power diode laser systems capable of reliable, agile, atomic locking will find uses in cold-atom spectroscopic sensors such as atom interferometers, gravimeters, magnetometers, atom clocks, focused ion beam sources and quantum computers. New inertial navigation sensors and atomic clocks are needed for GPS design environments. More accurate and lower power atomic clocks are needed for network synchronization for wireless networks and SONET. Cold-atom technology is also being used for the development of high-brightness ion beams useful for focused ion beams for semiconductor fabrication and electron beams for electron microscopy.

Keywords:
Atom Trapping And Cooling, Diode Lasers, Atomic Clocks.

We propose to develop extremely compact and rugged laser systems for emerging cold-atom-based sensors of time, gravity, and inertial forces. This phase II will provide complete and disruptive cold-atom laser / electro-optic control systems. We will design and build distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) laser diodes with 400 mW output power. We will incorporate these lasers into very compact and rugged telecom-style packages which include internal rubidium reference cells and/or offset phase locking optics. This packaging will leverage processes that have a track record of both telcordia and space-qualification. Finally, as the ultimate outcome from this phase II, we will combine these with other modules we are already developing, to enable full cold-atom laser systems. These systems can include: rubidium referenced master lasers, offset locked slave lasers, semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) and liquid-crystal electro-optic (LCEO) demux shutters. This set of optical modules can be combined in a variety of ways to give application-specific cold-atom laser systems suitable for use in the field or in space.

Benefit:
High power diode laser systems capable of reliable, agile, atomic locking will find uses in cold-atom spectroscopic sensors such as atom interferometers, gravimeters, magnetometers, atom clocks, focused ion beam sources and quantum computers. New inertial navigation sensors and atomic clocks are needed for GPS design environments. More accurate and lower power atomic clocks are needed for network synchronization for wireless networks and SONET. Cold-atom technology is also being used for the development of high-brightness ion beams useful for focused ion beams for semiconductor fabrication and electron beams for electron microscopy.

Keywords:
Atom Trapping And Cooling, Diode Lasers, Atomic Clocks, Bec, Cold-Atom Systems, Cold-Atom Lasers