基于多普勒效应的双峰荧光光谱激光稳频技术研究

刘忠征，陈海军，蔡军，冯进军

（北京真空电子技术研究所微波电真空器件国家级重点实验室，北京 100015）

0 Introduction

Laser frequency stabilization played a crucial role in optically pumped Cs beam frequency standard［1-2］，which is also important for some other applications，such as optical frequency standard，high-resolution molecular and atomic spectroscopy，laser cooling and trapping of atoms，optical communications［3-6］.Improving the stability of laser frequency by reducing frequency fluctuation can enhance the performance of the optically pumped Cs beam frequency standard［7］.In the past several decades，it has developed various methods to stabilize the laser frequency.The most popular approach is using the Saturated Absorption Spectroscopy（SAS）［8-10］，which has realized the 5×10−13at～1 s，but immediately reached the flicker floor［11］.There are also some other methods，such as Polarization Spectroscopy（PS）［12-13］，dichroic atomic-vapor laser lock（DAVLL）［14-15］，Frequency Modulation（FM）spectroscopy［16］，Doppler-free bichromatic spectroscopy［17］.These methods above are mostly based on the thermal vapor cell in a system which is kind of complicated，and facing the problems of the temperature of vapor，the light power and the magnetic field，which caused the unstable frequency of laser.The technique of Modulation Transfer Spectroscopy（MTS）with its short-term frequency stability has recently reached 2.6×10−13at averaging time of 5 s［18］，can provide a signal which is independent of fluctuations in polarization，temperature and beam intensity［19］，but at the cost of a more complex system.

For compact optically pumped Cs beam frequency standard，reliability is an important thing that need to be considered，which is probably easier to realize through a simple structure.And the method of laser frequency stabilization by laser-induced （one-peak） fluorescence spectroscopy is developed［20-24］.This method has enhanced the system reliability，but introduce a problem of linewidth broadening，which caused by divergent atomic beam.For Doppler-free spectroscopic technique in Ref.［25］，its dispersive signal has a high signal-tonoise ratio and no Doppler-background，but the drawback of this work is that the locking point may be not located at the center of the atomic transition if two light beams are not well managed.

In this paper，we present a method which has a very simple and reliable structure to stabilize the laser frequency by Two-Peak Fluorescence Spectroscopy（TPFS）.The results indicate that the performance of this method is better than the method of laser frequency stabilization by One-Peak Fluorescence Spectroscopy（OPFS）.With this method，we get the narrower half-width of the fluorescence signal，and the better laser frequency stability，which is suitable for a compact optically pumped Cs beam frequency standard.In the next，we will show the details of this method

1 Experimental setup

The experimental setup for stabilizing the laser frequency by TPFS is illustrated in Fig.1.A light beam with 852 nm from an External-Cavity Diode Laser（ECDL）is operated at 6S1/2，F=4↔6P3/2，F'=5 cycling transition of Cs atoms.Its free-running linewidth is less than 200 kHz.And its frequency can be accurately tuned by adjusting the injection current with a rate of 2.5 MHz/μA.The laser is divided into two beams by a Polarization Beam Splitter（PBS）after passing through an isolator，which is used to prevent the optical feedback.One beam is used for generating a calibration reference.Another is split into two parts by PBS for frequency stabilization，with a Half-Wave Plate（HWP）added to adjust the laser power of two paths.After reflecting by mirrors，the two beams propagate contrarily and coincide exactly with each other，they will interact with Cs atomic beam and emit fluorescence when the laser frequency is scanned to the cycling transition.After fluorescence collection and photoelectric conversion，the fluorescence spectroscopy is generated.A sine modulation signal with a frequency of about 2 kHz and the first（or third）derivative signal are sent to the laser controller.When the electronic servo circuit is operating，the laser is locked with a 2 MHz wide scan at a frequency of about 2 kHz.

The Cs beam tube is arranged in the experiment with the atomic beam is un-perpendicular to the laser beam，as shown in Fig.1.For Cs atoms with the speed ofv，the frequency shift due to the first-order Doppler effect is given by ∆ω=vω0cos（π/2+θ）/c，where ∆ωis frequency shift in radian，ω0is the atomic resonance frequency，cis the speed of light，（π/2+θ）is the angle between the direction of atoms and light beam.The frequency shift of the central frequency of fluorescence spectroscopies induced by these two light beams are±vω0|sinθ|/cseparately.When these two fluorescence spectroscopies add up，the two-peak fluorescence spectroscopy is formed.The tube was packaged by magnetic shields and the magnetic field intensity inside is smaller than 1 mG.The Cs atomic beam is emitted by a coaxial hole array of collimator，its temperature is controlled at 100 ℃with fluctuation less than±0.1℃，which is more stable owing to the vacuum environment than the temperature of vapor cell in the atmosphere.The distance between the interaction region and the collimator is about 30 mm，where the atomic beam have a bigger divergent angle.

Fig.1 Schematic of experimental arrangement

Relevant hyperfine energy levels of Cs atoms associated with the experiment are shown in Fig.2.The 6S1/2，F=4↔6P3/2，F'=5 is a cycling transition，and the natural linewidth of the 6P3/2state is about 5.2 MHz.

Fig.2 Relevant energy levels of Cs atoms

2 Experimental results and discussion

The TPFS of cycling transition is obtained by oblique-incidence laser at different angles，as shown in Fig.3.The magnification of the fluorescence signal is different from each other，for ensuring that the amplitude of the fluorescence peak is about same.Although，the laser beams are not perpendicular to the Cs atomic beam，but there is no crossover line in the fluorescence spectroscopy.Because the number of atoms corresponding to the appropriate velocity is small，owing to the velocity distribution in the atomic beam and the slight oblique angle.Besides，the TPFS of 4～5 line strength is much stronger than others for the reasons of electric dipole selection rules and optical pumping principle［26］.

The half-width（as marked by a pair of arrows in Fig.3）of the measured TPFS is changed with oblique angleθ.And we get 16.3 MHz，18.7 MHz，21.7 MHz，24.4 MHz and 26.9 MHz at different angles separately，which are larger than the natural linewidth（5.2 MHz）but smaller than the linewidth of measured OPFS（about 42.5 MHz，in Fig.6）.In addition，the amplitude of the central peak will decrease and tend to zero when theθdecreases and tend to zero，which result in the deterioration of the signal-to-noise ratio.The inset figure in Fig.3 shows the first derivative A and inverted third derivation B frequency discriminating curve，which the TPFS generates with a linewidth of about 24.4 MHz.And we can see that the first derivative and inverted third derivative of TPFS are similar.The under line is the calibration reference.

Fig.3 Measured TPFSs of Cs-D2 line induced by oblique-incidence laser at different angles

In this experimental scheme，the locking point will be located at the center of the atomic transition when the laser power of two beams is the same and the two beams coincide，which is easy to realize.The laser frequency is locked in the 6S1/2，F=4↔6P3/2，F'=5 transition of the Cs-D2line.Frequency fluctuation can be estimated by the voltage of the error signal.Fig.4（a）shows the results of the laser is free-running with a recording time of about 300 s.The estimated frequency drift is about 2.3 MHz，which is due to the temperature，current，and mechanical fluctuations［27］.When the electronic servo circuit operating，the laser fluctuation is suppressed to about 70 kHz peak-peak，as shown in Fig.4（b）.

Fig.4 Frequency fluctuation of error signal without and with the locking circuit operating

The laser frequency stability is obtained by the self-evaluation method，and the result of Allan deviation is shown in Fig.5.The square with the red line shows the stability of the laser stabilized by TPFS and the circles with the blue line represent the stability of the laser stabilized by OPFS.The recording time of both of them is about one day.The laser frequency stability of the red line is about 2.7×10−11at 1s which is better than 1×10−10，and less than 2.0×10−12at 500 s which is better than 5×10−12.These meet the stability requirements of laser light for the optically pumped Cs atomic clock［25］.The Allan deviationσy（τ）is proportional toτ−1/2forτ<1 000 s，then reach to the flicker floor.And the minimumσy（τ）is about 1.4×10−12at 1 000 s.

Fig.5 The Allan deviation of the stabilized 852 nm laser by TPFS and OPFS separately

In experiment，the temperature fluctuation of the oven is controlled within ±0.1 ℃，so the relative fluctuation of beam flux is about 0.6%.The oven and Cs atomic beam are shelled by three magnetic shielding material layers，with a residual magnetic field of less than 1 mG.The measured vacuum degree is better than 10−5Pa，which will not cause a collision between atoms.Besides，the center of TPFS is not affected by the intensity of laser or beam flux.The influence of the above factors on frequency stability has been reduced to negligible level.So，the flicker floor is probably caused by the light beam angle shift，which will limit the medium- and long-term frequency stability［22］.

For OPFS，the measured linewidth is about 42.5 MHz，as shown in Fig.6，due to the 30 mm distance between the interaction region and the collimator where the divergence angle of the atomic beam is bigger.

Fig.6 The OPFS of Cs-D2 line.The under line is the calibration reference

Replacing TPFS by OPFS，keeping the amplitude of dispersive signals roughly same and the other parameters invariable，we obtain the error signal after the locking circuit operating with the frequency fluctuation of about 100 kHz peak-peak.In Fig.5，the circles with blue line represent the stability of laser stabilized by OPFS.The Allan deviationσy（τ）is about 3.9×10−11at 1 s and about 3.2×10−12at 500 s，which also fulfill the stability requirements of laser light for the optically pumped Cs atomic clock［25］.And theσy（τ）is proportional toτ−1/2forτ< 400 s，then reach to the flicker floor，and theσy（τ）is about 3.4×10−12at 1 000 s.

By comparing these two methods，its results have been shown in Fig.5.We can see that the frequency stability of laser locking by TPFS is better than the frequency stability of laser locking by OPFS.We have used the same low-pass filter to reduce the noise of frequency-discrimination signals for both these two methods.The differences between these two methods in our experiment are that they have different half-width（about 24.4 MHz and 42.5 MHz separately）and different signal-to-noise ratio（the amplitude ratio between them is about 1/3）.The method of laser frequency locking by TPFS has lower signal-to-noise ratio but has a narrower half-width.

For the generation of TPFS，further work can be done to simplify the arrangement of the experiment.As shown in Fig.7，after being split by PBS，one of the laser beams spread straightly through the optical windows and returns along its original path after reflection by a mirror.A TPFS can also be obtained but exist left-right asymmetry，which will cause the locking point to be shifted from the center of 6S1/2，F=4↔6P3/2，F'=5 transition.But this character is suitable for laser cooling，because of the frequency locking point can be easily tuned by changing the propagation direction of the Cs atomic beam.

Fig.7 The simplified experimental arrangement for generating the TPFS

3 Conclusion

In conclusion，we have presented a very simple scheme to stabilize the laser frequency by TPFS，and the performance of this method is better than the performance of laser stabilization by OPFS.The linewidth of TPFS is tunable，and we get 16.3 MHz，18.7 MHz，21.7 MHz，24.4 MHz and 26.9 MHz at the different oblique incidence angles separately.The frequency fluctuation of stabilized laser is about 70 kHz peak-peak by TPFS with a linewidth of about 24.4 MHz，and the frequency instability is 2.7×10−11at 1 s，and less than 2.0×10−12at 500 s，which are fulfill the requirements of the compact optically pumped Cs beam frequency standard.Future works will focus on replacing the ECDL by Distributed Feedback（DFB）diode laser and reducing the noise of the laser.