POLARIS: high POwer, phase-locked LAseRs for atom InterferometerS

POLARIS：用于原子干涉仪的高功率锁相激光器

• 批准号: EP/R00210X/1
• 负责人: Edward Hinds
• 金额: $ 24.51万
• 依托单位: Imperial College London
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2017
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2017 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=EP%2FR00210X%2F1
• 关键词: POLARIS; POwer; phase; locked; LAseRs

Quantum technology relies on the behaviour of quantum superposition states. It is generally desirable to work with longlived superpositions as these give the greatest benefit. For example, when measuring forces, accelerations, magnetic and electric fields, or just the passage of time, long-lived superpositions give the highest sensitivity and that is the key advantage of quantum sensing. For computation, long coherence time increases the available computing power. The most convenient way to manipulate the internal quantum states of an atom (or ion or molecule) is using laser light that couples to the charge distortion of the atom. Two stable, low-lying atomic states can be superposed using a pair of laser beams whose frequencies differ by the microwave frequency linking the two states. This is called a Raman transition. The microwave beat note between the two laser frequencies is transferred to the quantum superposition of atomic states, which then oscillates at the microwave frequency, with the phase impressed by the lasers. To make the most of quantum interference, one needs lasers of stable intensity -- preferably high intensity -- and exceptionally low phase noise in the beat note. For many such applications, no suitable laser system is commercially available. That is the problem we address here. The SolsTis produced by M-Squared Lasers is a very stable, high-power laser, which provides the ideal starting pointfor developing a suitable product. It is broadly-tuneable across the near infrared range (700 nm - 1,000 nm), so it can address a wide range of relevant atoms, particularly the two workhorse atoms rubidium and caesium. The team at Imperial College is developing accelerometers for inertial navigation using atomic quantum coherence in rubidium atoms. This application is challenging as the lasers driving the Raman transition must combine high power, exceptionally low phase noise, low drift, and great agility of power, frequency and phase. We propose to work closely with M-Squared to develop a packaged laser system that optimises the performance of these accelerometers. This involves research to define the optimum specifications and development to deliver those specifications in a commercial package. The goal of the present proposal is to define and then produce a suitable laser system, and to validate it by demonstrating high performance, first in a 1-axis accelerometer and then in a 3-axis prototype.The system will be developed and validated in the context of a new method for navigating without recourse to the satellite network, which has military and transport applications. However, it will be much more widely useful because of the general importance of Raman transitions in quantum technology. Other probable applications include geological surveying, mining, ultra-precise time stamping, medical imaging, and quantum information processing.

量子技术取决于量子叠加状态的行为。通常希望与长期叠加的叠加一起工作，因为这些叠加带来了最大的好处。例如，当测量力，加速度，磁场和电场或仅限时间通过时，长寿命的叠加会产生最高的灵敏度，这是量子传感的关键优势。对于计算，长相干时间增加了可用的计算能力。操纵原子（或离子或分子）内部量子状态的最方便方法是使用激光光，将其伴随到原子的电荷失真中。可以使用一对激光束将两个稳定的低洼原子态超级叠加，其频率通过将两个状态连接的微波频率不同。这称为拉曼过渡。将两个激光频率之间的微波搏动音符转移到原子态的量子叠加中，然后在微波频率下振荡，相位被激光器留下了深刻的印象。为了充分利用量子干扰，人们需要稳定强度的激光器（最好是高强度），并且在节拍音符中需要极低的相位噪声。对于许多此类应用，没有可用的合适的激光系统。这就是我们在这里解决的问题。 M平方激光器产生的溶胶溶液是一种非常稳定的高功率激光器，它为开发合适的产品提供了理想的起点。它可以在近红外范围（700 nm -1,000 nm）上进行广泛调整，因此它可以解决广泛的相关原子，尤其是两个主力原子Rubidium和Cesium。帝国学院的团队正在开发加速度计，用于使用rubidium Atoms中的原子量子相干性进行惯性导航。该应用程序具有挑战性，因为驱动拉曼过渡的激光器必须结合高功率，极低的相位噪声，低漂移以及功率，频率和相位的敏捷性。我们建议与M平方紧密合作，以开发包装的激光系统，以优化这些加速度计的性能。这涉及研究以定义最佳规格和开发，以在商业套餐中提供这些规格。本提案的目的是定义并产生合适的激光系统，并通过证明高性能，首先在1轴加速度计中，然后在3轴原型中进行验证。该系统将以新的方法进行开发和验证，以无需求助于具有军事和运输应用的卫星网络，该方法具有军事和运输应用。但是，由于拉曼过渡在量子技术中的普遍重要性，它将更加广泛地有用。其他可能的应用程序包括地质测量，采矿，超精美的时间冲压，医学成像和量子信息处理。