Acta Optica Sinica, Volume. 40, Issue 22, 2214002(2020)
Automatic Laser Frequency Stabilization System for Transportable 87Rb Fountain Clock
A frequency stabilized laser capable of long-term autonomous operation is the basis for the continuous operation of an atomic fountain clock. In this paper, based on a 780 nm commercial external cavity diode laser used in the 87Rb fountain clock, we develop a long-term automatic frequency stabilization system by using an embedded system. The proposed system can automatically identify the target peak in the 87Rb saturated absorption spectrum, stabilize the laser frequency for a long time and quickly re-lock it after an accidental loss of lock. In addition, we develop a method for dynamically adjusting the operating point. The target operating point changes with time because the influences of temperature, humidity, device aging, and other factors during the long-term operation of the laser. Based on this method, the laser frequency stabilization system makes lock loss rarely occur, and easily re-locks even if lock loss happens. The proposed frequency stabilization system has been successfully applied to our transportable 87Rb fountain clock. The clock can operate normally soon after transport and the long-term stabilization time of laser frequency can reach more than one month. The long-term stability of laser frequency relative to the 87Rb saturated absorption spectrum is about 2.3×10 -13 and the long-term stability of the transportable 87Rb fountain clock before and after transport is always at the magnitude of 10 -16.
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Jingwei Ji, Henan Cheng, Zhen Zhang, Kangkang Liu, Jingfeng Xiang, Wei Ren, Lin Li, Desheng Lü. Automatic Laser Frequency Stabilization System for Transportable 87Rb Fountain Clock[J]. Acta Optica Sinica, 2020, 40(22): 2214002
Category: Lasers and Laser Optics
Received: Jul. 3, 2020
Accepted: Jul. 31, 2020
Published Online: Oct. 25, 2020
The Author Email: Lü Desheng (dslv@siom.ac.cn)