Laser system for cold atom experiments in optical surface trap

• Main Author: Ma, Ruichao
• Other Authors: Rainer Helmut Dumke
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2009
• Subjects: DRNTU::Science::Physics::Optics and light
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/17047
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

In this final year project, a compact laser system is built and characterized for cold atom experiments with 87Rb atoms. We build 2 tunable grating stabilized external cavity diode lasers (ECDLs) at 780nm, serving as the lasers for cooling and trapping of the atoms. The power from one of the ECDL is amplified with a tapered amplifier in the master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) configuration. The lasers are frequency stabilized to within 1MHz by two different techniques: AC locking using saturated absorption spectroscopy, and trombone locking using beat signal. Acousto-optic modulators (AOMs) are used to offset and tune the frequency of the various beams required for the experiment: the cooling beams, repumping beam, optical pumping beam and the imaging beam. We deliver the beams from the laser system to the experiment using single mode fibers. The setup for the proposed optical surface trap experiment is also described, and the experimental sequence is outlined.