Light shifts in an optically pumped Cs beam frequency standard

Frequency shifts caused by light, which are called light shifts in an optically pumped Cs beam frequency standard, were estimated. Frequency shifts due to monolithic light were measured by introducing laser light along the Cs beam. The relative dependence of the shift on the laser frequency agreed very well with the theory, but the absolute shift was between one and two times that of the theory. The light shifts due to the optical pumping and optical detection in the standard are estimated to be less than 2×10^-15 and 1×10^-16, respectively, and both are negligible at the present state of development     

A beam reversal experiment for the estimation of microwave powershifts in an optically pumped Cs beam frequency standard

The characteristics of microwave-power-dependent frequency shifts of an optically pumped Cs frequency standard are reported. The general features of the shifts are in good agreement with simple theoretical predictions. The shift is quite symmetrical in beam reversal, and the standard deviation of the difference between the observed and predicted shift is about 6×10-14     

Oscillation of the center of the Rabi pedestal in an optically pumped Cs beam standard

This paper is devoted to the study of the symmetry of the Rabi pedestal of the clock transition in an optically pumped Cs beam frequency standard. The frequency of the microwave oscillator is locked on the center of the Rabi pedestal using a square wave frequency modulation. We observe a modulation of the center frequency as a function of the modulation depth. Experimental investigations on this unexpected effect are reported     

Phase and light shift determination in an optically pumped cesium beam frequency standard

The determination of the phase shift and the light shift in our optically pumped Cs beam is reported here. We show that an error on the phase difference value determined by our fit method, without beam reversal, can be induced if the light shift is not taken into account. If the experimental data are corrected for the light shift, the results of the fit method are in very good agreement with the beam reversal results. This allows us to reduce the related uncertainty in the accuracy budget of our standard. The resulting overall accuracy of the standard is now estimated to be 6.3x10(-15).     

Frequency performances of a miniature optically pumped cesium beam frequency standard

The optically pumped cesium beam clock named Cs IV is operated with a new short Ramsey cavity satisfying strict requirements on the microwave leakage level. The most relevant characteristics of the device are presented. Cs IV is presently driven by standard electronics coming from a HP 5061 B clock that provides a sinusoidal modulation of the interrogation microwave signal and a microwave power stability of about 1% at a temperature of 20+/-1 degrees C. The short- and medium-term frequency stability measurement gives sigma(y)(1 day)=2x10(-14): this value holds up to 3 days. The accuracy evaluation results in an uncertainty of 10(-12), and the repeatability is evaluated to 3x10(-13). It appears that the flicker floor is beginning at 2x10(-14) and is mainly due to both the power fluctuations of the free running microwave interrogating signal and the fluctuations of the external static magnetic field. The accuracy is limited by the lack of knowledge of the end-to-end cavity phase shift.     

A new design of a diffused laser light optically pumped small cesium beam frequency standard

A new set-up of a small Cs clock has been successfully experimentally tested. The short-term stability (2x10(-12)) and the long-term stability (3.5x10(-13) for a day sample time) have been measured. Only one laser is needed without any frequency shift device. The light frequency shift caused by diffuse light was calculated and measured.     

Optically pumped rubidium as a frequency standard at 196 THz

The performance of 196.0-THz (1529-nm) DFB lasers frequency-locked to absorption lines of a rubidium vapor optically pumped at 384.2 THz (780.2 nm) is studied. The absorption profiles of the pumped vapor are measured under various conditions and compared with theoretical predictions. A bright resonance resulting from the cascade of two cycling transitions is characterized both experimentally and theoretically. The measured frequency stability of a DFB laser frequency-locked to this line reaches a level of 2×10^-10 for an averaging time of 100 s when compared to a similar laser locked to an acetylene line     

Influence of a static magnetic field on the detected atomic velocity distribution in an optically pumped cesium beam frequency standard

Irregularities of the microwave Ramsey patterns in an optically pumped cesium atomic beam frequency standards with a sharp angle incidence detecting laser beam have been diagnosed. They arise from a separated two-peak detected velocity distribution, which is caused by static magnetic fields. Experimentally measured results and theoretical analysis of this phenomenon are presented in this paper.     

Preliminary results of an optically pumped cesium beam frequencystandard at Peking University

The preliminary performance of an optically pumped cesium beam frequency standard is reported. The stability is 1.2×10^-11 /√τ, comparable to the stability of commercial conventional cesium beam frequency standards. The bias-saturated-absorption lock technique is used to lock the probing laser and the pumping laser to the cesium D₂ line. It is a simple, low cost, and reliable locking method with more than 100 h locking time     

Controlling the microwave amplitude in optically pumped cesium beam frequency standards

Assuming square wave frequency modulation, the response, versus the amplitude of the microwave field, of an optically pumped cesium beam tube is considered. The properties of the first maximum of this response are analyzed. The effect of the neighboring lines is taken into consideration, and a model of the profile of the microwave field in each interaction region is validated. A symmetry property of the response considered is pointed out. It enables us to implement a feedback control of the microwave amplitude with a large depth of the amplitude modulation. Residual frequency offsets that may occur as a consequence of a spurious amplitude modulation correlated with the frequency modulation are assessed. And, with a cavity designed such that sigma=pi between the two oscillatory fields, it also is possible to measure the microwave amplitude at the first maximum of the sole contribution of the reference atomic line.     

Properties of an optically pumped cesium-beam frequency standardwith Φ=π between the two oscillatory fields

The properties of optically pumped cesium-beam resonators showing a phase difference, Φ, of π between the two oscillatory fields are analyzed. They are compared with those occurring with Φ=0, when the interrogation signal is slowly square-wave frequency modulated. The value of the operating parameters which optimizes the resonator properties is given for Φ=0 and π,taking into account the effect of the noise sources which perturb the atom detection. It is shown that the design with Φ=π is superior. It provides a better frequency stability and smaller frequency offsets. The conclusion holds for short as well as long tubes     

Microwave spectrum asymmetry in an optically pumped cesium beamresonator

This paper deals with a theoretical and experimental study that describes the effect of a frequency detuning of the laser used to achieve optical pumping in a small optically pumped cesium beam resonator. The ground state Zeeman sublevels with opposite angular momentum are unequally populated, leading to an asymmetrical microwave spectrum. The relative population asymmetry as a function of the laser frequency has a dispersion-like shape. Its dependence on laser intensity, applied magnetic field, and laser linewidth is demonstrated for a laser at 852 nm and tuned to the ²S_1/2F=3→²P_3/2F'=3 transition of the Cs D₂ line. Finally, the effect of a slight laser detuning on the Rabi pulling frequency shift is discussed     

Theoretical analysis of fluorescence light shifts in optically pumped cesium beam frequency standards

Shirley's analysis (1985) is generalized to calculate the fluorescence light shifts in various optically pumped Cs beam standards, especially in the two-beam type frequency standard that enables a real-time correction of an end-to-end cavity phase shift. Using tables of light shift coefficients and mean fluorescence photon numbers per atom, fluorescence light shifts in one- and two-beam type optically pumped Cs beam frequency standards using noncycling detection and cycling detection, are evaluated. Results obtained are useful to correct the fluorescence light shifts in optically pumped Cs beam frequency standards.     

Analysis of the noise sources in an optically pumped cesium beamresonator

The main noise sources that affect the clock signal detection in an optically pumped cesium beam resonator are determined and their influence on the clock S/N ratio is evaluated. The following noise sources are taken into account: atomic shot noise, fluorescence photon noise, laser frequency noise, and clock signal detection noise. A theoretical model that predicts the variations of the S/N ratio as a function of different parameters characterizing the atom-laser interaction is developed. The main conclusion concerns the saturation of S/N value for high atomic flux due to laser frequency fluctuations. All the theoretical predictions were experimentally verified     

Virtues and problems of the high C-field Cs beam frequency standard

The high C-field Cs beam frequency standard is presently a working machine that is undergoing first evaluations. The projected 10(-14 ) accuracy goal is as yet unattained, mainly because of inadequate C-field uniformity and stability. An analysis of the projected possible C-field improvements and the consequent uncertainty is here reported.     

Optical frequency standard at 532 nm

We have constructed a frequency-doubled Nd:YAG laser source stabilized via modulation transfer spectroscopy to hyperfine absorption peaks in molecular iodine. The system is suitable for use as an optical frequency standard because of the excellent stability (σ<1×10^-13 for τ⩾1 s) and reproducibility (75 Hz per ir laser) observed between two independent dissimilar systems. With heterodyne techniques, we have measured the hyperfine splittings of seven rovibrational transitions in ¹²⁷I₂. A computer fits the data for the hyperfine coupling constants based on a four term Hamiltonian. The residuals from these fits have a standard deviation as low as 520 Hz, displaying the best reported agreement to date with the quadrupolar hyperfine Hamiltonian. Modulation transfer lineshapes have been accurately recorded using rf offset phase-locking techniques with our two systems. Pressure shift (-1.3 kHz/Pa) and broadening (74 kHz/Pa) of the a₁ component of R(56)32-0 have been derived from these lineshape measurements     

Characteristics of stimulated emission from an optically pumped GaN/AlGaN double heterostructure

The luminescence properties of a GaN/Al_0.1Ga_0.9N double heterostructure grown by vapor-phase deposition from organometallic compounds are studied. When luminescence is observed from the end, the radiation intensity shows a sharply defined threshold dependence on the pump density. The threshold excitation density at T=77 K was ∼40 kW/cm² and the wavelength of the stimulated emission was λ=357 nm. The long-wavelength shift of the emission line at high pump densities may be attributed to renormalization of the band gap caused by many-particle interactions in the electron-hole plasma. Pis’ma Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 23, 53–59 (August 12, 1997)