Thesis

Development of micro-fabricated vapour cell technology for compact atomic devices

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Awarding institution
  • University of Strathclyde
Date of award
  • 2024
Thesis identifier
  • T17170
Person Identifier (Local)
  • 202059407
Qualification Level
Qualification Name
Department, School or Faculty
Abstract
  • This thesis follows several investigations into micro-fabricated vapour cells towardsthe development of compact and field deployable atomic devices such asRF/optical atomic clocks, wavelength references and magnetometers. Initially Iinvestigated a novel fabrication technique using a water-jet cutter to form deepsilicon cavities allowing for micro-fabricated vapour cells to be produced with a6mm optical path length in an efficient and low-cost manner. I then investigatedcontrolling the N2 pressure within a micro-fabricated cell via laser heatingan non-evaporable getter. From this study it was found that the N2 pressurecould be reduced from one to hundreds of Torr and this technique was then usedto map out the intrinsic relaxation rate of the Cs atoms within the cell with aoptically pumped magnetometer. Then I investigated packaging a Rb cell witha 1mm optical path length together with printed circuit board coils to create aZeeman tunable wavelength reference, which demonstrated a frequency tunabilityof ± 60MHz and a short-term frequency stability comparable to conventionalRb wavelength references. Next I fabricated a 6 mm thick micro-fabricated cell,which was capable of sustaining a cold atom sample with active vacuum pumping.This cell was integrated with a micro-fabricated diffractive optic to producea chip-scale laser cooling platform capable of trapping 106 87Rb atoms. Finally Iinvestigated different fabrication routes to realise a micro-fabricated vapour cellwith an elongated geometry for two-photon optical clocks.
Advisor / supervisor
  • Riis, Erling
  • McGilligan, James P.
  • Griffin, Paul F.
Resource Type
DOI

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