Design and implementation of a modular laser system for AMO experiments

Abstract

Robust laser delivery and stabilization are key components in atom-based quantum technologies, such as quantum computing. Moving these technologies towards product-like deployment requires scalable, compact, cost-effective, and upgradable modules. Here we describe laser systems consisting of application-flexible modules, and demonstrate their performance by characterizing key metrics and by integration with ion trap systems. The laser system is confined to a single server rack and a compact locking station. Both are Class 1 laser products with fiber in-out and electronic control of the laser light. This is achieved through precision manufacture of optical boards that are designed to reduce the degrees of freedom, ease alignment, and increase the robustness to environmental factors. We present a range of 13 wavelengths from 375 nm to 1092 nm: efficiencies from laser source to ion trap range from 21 - 28%, with laser stabilization line widths below 1 MHz.

Figures (19)

• Figure 1: Schematic of the laser system. Optical fibers connect the laser sources (see supplementary material Sec. \ref{['sec:Laser_sources']}) to the distribution modules. Each distribution module has six flexible outputs. In our implementations, one goes to a wavemeter, one goes to a locking system, and the remainder go to AOM modules -- controlling up to four experimental outputs. In total we fit 14 optical boards into a 39 U 19-inch rack -- each distribution optical board contains two distribution modules and each AOM board contains four AOM modules.
• Figure 2: (Top) Schematic of the distribution module (see Appendix \ref{['sec:Schematics']} for the key). (Bottom) Photo of a completed distribution board. Each board consists of two distribution modules (for two separate wavelengths). Brackets are used for strain relief and routing of fibers.
• Figure 3: (Top) Schematic of a single double-pass AOM module (see Appendix \ref{['sec:Schematics']} for the key). (Bottom) Photo of a completed AOM board. Each board consists of four double-pass AOM modules -- each providing independent control.
• Figure 4: Photo of a dichroic combination module for combining two wavelengths. Example shown: combining 395 nm and 461 nm provides the two-stage photoionisation beams for strontium ion trapping.
• Figure 5: Rendering of the complete rack-based laser system, with the optical boards housed inside light-tight drawers.