Southwest Quantum Information and Technology

Optically pumped semiconductor lasers for atomic physics

Presenting Author: Shaun Burd, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder
Contributing Author(s): D. T. C. Allcock, J-P. Penttinen, T. Leinonen, D. H. Slichter, R. Srinivas, M. Guina, D. Leibfried, D. J. Wineland

Experiments in atomic, molecular, and optical (AMO) physics rely on lasers at many different wavelengths and with varying requirements on spectral linewidth, power, and intensity stability. Optically pumped semiconductor lasers (OPSLs), when combined with nonlinear frequency conversion, can potentially replace many of the laser systems currently in use. Here we describe the single-frequency OPSL systems that have been developed by the NIST ion storage group. These OPSL systems are used for photoionization of neutral magnesium atoms and also for laser cooling and quantum state manipulation of trapped magnesium ions [1]. Currently we are looking into extending this approach to photoionization loading and manipulation of beryllium ions. Our OPSL systems serve as prototypes for applications in AMO requiring single-frequency, power-scalable laser sources at multiple wavelengths. [1] S. C. Burd et al., Optica. 3, 12 (2016)

(Session 5 : Thursday from 5:00pm - 7:00 pm)