Cold Atom Optical System for Space

We propose to design a compact, rugged and low-power optical system for use in rubidium Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) systems and to validate critical design features. AOSense previously has designed and fabricated atom-optic (AO) sensor laser systems and control electronics for a variety of terrestrial moving-platform applications. Innovations proposed in this work include: (1) laser sources at 780 nm rubidium transitions instead of 852 nm cesium transitions, (2) a two-fold increase in the frequency-tuning range, (3) a five-fold reduction in volume and (4) mechanical and thermal designs focused toward space-qualification rather than terrestrial moving-base applications. Design validation studies will focus on ensuring that the laser sources, which are foundational to the design, will meet the required performance specifications.