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A compact and robust diode laser system for atom interferometry on a sounding rocket

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Abstract

We present a diode laser system optimized for laser cooling and atom interferometry with ultra-cold rubidium atoms aboard sounding rockets as an important milestone toward space-borne quantum sensors. Design, assembly and qualification of the system, combing micro-integrated distributed feedback (DFB) diode laser modules and free space optical bench technology, is presented in the context of the MAIUS (Matter-wave Interferometry in Microgravity) mission. This laser system, with a volume of 21 l and total mass of 27 kg, passed all qualification tests for operation on sounding rockets and is currently used in the integrated MAIUS flight system producing Bose–Einstein condensates and performing atom interferometry based on Bragg diffraction. The MAIUS payload is being prepared for launch in fall 2016. We further report on a reference laser system, comprising a rubidium stabilized DFB laser, which was operated successfully on the TEXUS 51 mission in April 2015. The system demonstrated a high level of technological maturity by remaining frequency stabilized throughout the mission including the rocket’s boost phase.

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Acknowledgments

We want to thank the Germany Space Agency (DLR) for their support. Special thanks go to Dr. Rainer Kuhl (DLR) for his enthusiasm, motivation and guidance. We thank Menlo Systems for integrating the rubidium spectroscopy module into the FOKUS payload and operation throughout the joint sounding rocket mission. This work is supported by the German Space Agency DLR with funds provided by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy under grant numbers DLR 50WM 1133, 1237, 1238 and 1345.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Physik, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Newtonstr. 15, 12489, Berlin, Germany

    V. Schkolnik, K. Döringshoff, A. Wicht, M. Krutzik & A. Peters

  2. Institut für Physik, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, 55099, Mainz, Germany

    A. Wenzlawski & P. Windpassinger

  3. Institut für Laserphysik, Universität Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761, Hamburg, Germany

    O. Hellmig & K. Sengstock

  4. Zentrum für angewandte Raumfahrttechnologie und Mikrogravitation (ZARM), Universität Bremen, Am Fallturm, 28359, Bremen, Germany

    J. Grosse & C. Braxmaier

  5. Ferdinand-Braun-Institut, Leibniz-Institut für Höchstfrequenztechnik, Gustav-Kirchhoff-Str. 4, 12489, Berlin, Germany

    V. Schkolnik, A. Kohfeldt, A. Wicht & A. Peters

  6. Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), Institut für Raumfahrtsysteme, Robert-Hooke-Str. 7, 28359, Bremen, Germany

    J. Grosse & C. Braxmaier

Authors
  1. V. Schkolnik
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  2. O. Hellmig
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  3. A. Wenzlawski
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  4. J. Grosse
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  5. A. Kohfeldt
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  6. K. Döringshoff
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  7. A. Wicht
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  8. P. Windpassinger
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  9. K. Sengstock
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  10. C. Braxmaier
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  11. M. Krutzik
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  12. A. Peters
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Correspondence to V. Schkolnik.

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Schkolnik, V., Hellmig, O., Wenzlawski, A. et al. A compact and robust diode laser system for atom interferometry on a sounding rocket. Appl. Phys. B 122, 217 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-016-6490-0

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