Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A three-step laser stabilization scheme for excitation to Rydberg levels in 85Rb

  • Published:
Applied Physics B Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We demonstrate a three-step laser stabilization scheme for excitation to nP and nF Rydberg states in 85Rb, with all three lasers stabilized using active feedback to independent Rb vapor cells. The setup allows stabilization to the Rydberg states 36P3/2–70P3/2 and 33F7/2–90F7/2, with the only limiting factor being the available third step laser power. We study the scheme by monitoring the three laser frequencies simultaneously against a self-referenced optical frequency comb. The third step laser, locked to the Rydberg transition, displays an Allan deviation of 30 kHz over 1 second and <80 kHz over 1 hour. The scheme is very robust and affordable, and it would be ideal for carrying out a range of quantum information experiments.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. J. Ye, S. Swartz, P. Jungner, J.L. Hall, Opt. Lett. 21, 1280 (1996)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. G.P. Barwood, P. Gill, W.R.C. Rowley, Appl. Phys. B 53, 142 (1991)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. M.L. Jones, G.J. Wilkes, B.T.H. Varcoe, J. Phys. B, At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 42, 145501 (2009)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. P.J. Blythe, B.T.H. Varcoe, New J. Phys. 8, 231 (2006)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. A.K. Mohapatra, T.R. Jackson, C.S. Adams, Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 113003 (2007)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. P. Thoumany, T. Germann, T. Hänsch, G. Stania, L. Urbonas, T. Becker, J. Mod. Opt. 56, 2055 (2009)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. L.A.M. Johnson, H.O. Majeed, B. Sanguinetti, T. Becker, B.T.H. Varcoe, New J. Phys. 12, 063028 (2010)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. P. Thoumany, T. Hänsch, G. Stania, L. Urbonas, T. Becker, Opt. Lett. 34, 1621 (2009)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  9. R.P. Abel, A.K. Mohapatra, M.G. Bason, J.D. Pritchard, K.J. Weatherill, U. Raitzsch, C.S. Adams, Appl. Phys. Lett. 94, 071107 (2009)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  10. C.P. Pearman, C.S. Adams, S.G. Cox, P.F. Griffin, D.A. Smith, I.G. Hughes, J. Phys. B, At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 35, 5141 (2002)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  11. G. Kramer, W. Klische, http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpls/abs_all.jsp?arnumber=956178&tag=1

  12. A. Weis, S. Derler, Appl. Opt. 27, 2662 (1988)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. B. Sanguinetti, H.O. Majeed, M.L. Jones, B.T.H. Varcoe, J. Phys. B, At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 42, 165004 (2009)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  14. J. Han, Y. Jamil, D.V.L. Norum, P.J. Tanner, T.F. Gallagher, Phys. Rev. A 74, 054502 (2006)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  15. W.-K. Lee, D.-S. Yee, H.S. Suh, Appl. Opt. 46, 930 (2007)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK

    L. A. M. Johnson, H. O. Majeed & B. T. H. Varcoe

Authors
  1. L. A. M. Johnson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. H. O. Majeed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. B. T. H. Varcoe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to L. A. M. Johnson.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Johnson, L.A.M., Majeed, H.O. & Varcoe, B.T.H. A three-step laser stabilization scheme for excitation to Rydberg levels in 85Rb. Appl. Phys. B 106, 257–260 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-011-4805-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-011-4805-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation