Long Term Ultrastable Laser System for Space Based Atomic PNT

ABSTRACT: To enable the next generation of GPS, we require DBR lasers that can stay frequency locked and produce useful amount of power for 10 years.To qualify DBR lasers for these stringent conditions, we propose to build and run an accelerated frequency locked aging test.The test lasers will be held at various elevated temperatures to accelerate aging and with our novel test rig, we will be able offset frequency lock all of the lasers to an absolute atomic transition.The time to frequency unlock data in combination with standard accelerated aging analysis protocols will be used to extract a mean time to frequency unlock at operational condition, nominally room temperature.We will also perform a conventional diode aging test to study the power degradation of these lasers.In addition to the lifetime tests, we will develop and test an auto-calibration routine that will detect and steer the standard DBR laser away from mode hops by tuning its temperature.This technique will only be applicable to applications where periodic unlocks can be tolerated.; 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, atomic clocks, focused ion beam sources and quantum computers.New inertial navigation sensors and atomic clocks are needed for GPS satellites and for GPS denied 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 semiconductor fabrication and electron beams for electron microscopy.