High-Power, Narrow Linewidth Laser Sources for Alkali Atoms

The purpose of this proposal is to produce high-power, narrow-linewidth (~1 MHz or less), robust, turnkey laser sources that will meet the requirements of emerging cold-atom sensors. The goal of this Phase II effort is to develop a frequency-agile diode laser system with an output power of 1000 mW. This single-laser source can be modulated with sidebands at up to 10 GHz for repumping operations, and can be frequency tuned in under 50 ƒÝs for various operations needed for atom trapping and cooling, readout, and BEC production. The laser diodes at the heart of the systems are a master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) configuration with a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) section forming the master oscillator. Another goal of the Phase II effort is to develop a liquid-crystal spatial light modulator with 65 dB of contrast in the dark state and capable of producing 100 ƒÝs pulses. Over 150 dB of total isolation is possible by exploiting the laser detuning capability and the shuttering function of the power amplifier.