Space-qualified Single-frequency Blue Lasers for Optical Atomic Clocks

Optical atomic clocks using lasers in the visible or ultraviolet instead of microwave to excite the atoms can provide an evaluate accuracy of 10-18. However, there remains a large gap between the highest performing cold-atom and lattice based optical clocks and the SWaP required to support many technologies needed for NASA missions today. There is a great demand for space-qualified lasers for corresponding clock and cooling transitions. NP Photonics proposes to develop compact, robust, and reliable single-frequency blue lasers that will be developed using our unique highly doped short-length fiber laser technology and can be used for spaceborne optical atomic clocks. In this Phase I program, we will demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed laser sources by developing a diode-pumped single-frequency fiber laser oscillator and power amplifiers and second harmonic generation lasers at the wavelengths of interest. Space-qualified laser sources will be developed and delivered in Phase II.