Hannover 2016 – wissenschaftliches Programm
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Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik
Q 35: Laser Development II
Q 35.5: Vortrag
Mittwoch, 2. März 2016, 15:30–15:45, a310
Compact mode-locked diode laser system for precision frequency comparison in microgravity — •Heike Christopher1,2, Evgeny Kovalchuk1,2, Andreas Wicht1,2, Günther Tränkle2, and Achim Peters1,2 — 1Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin — 2Ferdinand-Braun-Institut, Leibniz-Institut für Höchstfrequenztechnik, Berlin
We have developed a compact mode-locked diode laser to generate an optical frequency comb in the wavelength range of 780 nm. It is designed for use in precision experiments in microgravity testing the universality of free fall (UFF) using light pulse atom interferometry for Potassium and Rubidium ultra-cold quantum gases.
The extended-cavity diode laser contains an AlGaAs ridge-waveguide diode chip, aspheric micro-optics for collimation and an external dielectric mirror. Passive mode-locking is realized by reverse biasing a short section of the structured laser diode. A broadband spectral output of more than 15 nm at -20 dB level was achieved. Nearly zero group velocity dispersion (GVD) of the external mirror allows for a highly stable pulse performance at a repetition rate of about 3.4 GHz and pulse widths of approx. 5 ps. We present the current status of our work and discuss options for further improvements, e.g. extending the spectral bandwidth even further as well as active stabilization of the mode-locking process.
This project is supported by the German Space Agency DLR, with funds provided by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) under grant numbers 50WM1237-1240.