Integrated Source for Space-Based Atomic Instruments

The goal of this effort is to develop environmentally hardened, fully integrated frequency doubling components for wavelength stabilization and comb self-referencing that meet AFRL defined power, stability and lifetime requirements. Providing compact robust lasers that can reliably pump atomic transitions with adequate power and linewidth characteristics has proven difficult. While direct atomic line lasers are available, they suffer from a number of issues including wavelength instability and susceptibility to feedback, poor mode quality which limits fiber coupling and a lack of availability due to the low market volume. Alternatively, the fiber-based infrastructure developed at telecom wavelengths is technologically mature and readily available; however, it does not extend into the visible range where several atomic transitions have been successfully demonstrated to have suitable linewidth characteristics for precision timing applications. Optical clocks can capitalize on these low-noise telecom components by frequency converting them to the desired transition wavelength without the performance and reliability concerns of direct diode systems.