Atomically-Referenced Optical Wavelength Standard

Radio frequency (RF) measurement techniques are extensively utilized across fundamental research, telecommunications, military and defense, and various industrial sectors. Recently, Rydberg sensors have emerged as a promising advancement, offering significant improvements over existing RF measurement systems. These sensors leverage the exceptional sensitivity of atoms prepared in specialized excited states—known as Rydberg states—to measure RF fields with remarkable accuracy and precision. Furthermore, Rydberg-based measurements provide inherent SI traceability by directly referencing fundamental atomic constants. However, a significant hurdle in deploying Rydberg sensors under practical field conditions, including suborbital and space-based applications, is the absence of a ruggedized frequency stabilization subsystem for the lasers driving the essential atomic transitions required to generate Rydberg atoms. Currently, no suitable field-deployable frequency standards exist for stabilizing these lasers. Traditional stabilization methods, such as referencing the Rydberg transition itself or utilizing frequency combs, are impractical for field deployment due to their complexity and fragility. To address this critical gap, Opto-Atomics Corp. (OAC) proposes the development of an Atomically-Referenced Optical Wavelength Standard (AROWS), specifically targeting NASA’s active microwave remote sensing applications. OAC aims to produce a compact and robust laser stabilization subsystem suitable for field-deployed Rydberg sensors. AROWS will enable SI-traceable sensing in operational field environments, delivering exceptional sensitivity and precision across the S- through W-bands, and optimized for minimal size, weight, and power (SWaP). During Phase I, OAC will develop a breadboard prototype and experimentally validate the feasibility of AROWS.