ARROW principle enables atomic spectroscopy on a chip

July 1, 2007
Researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and Brigham Young University (BYU; Provo, UT) have reported successful atomic spectroscopy with integrated optics on a chip for the first time, guiding a beam of light through a rubidium-vapor cell integrated into a semiconductor chip.

Researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and Brigham Young University (BYU; Provo, UT) have reported successful atomic spectroscopy with integrated optics on a chip for the first time, guiding a beam of light through a rubidium-vapor cell integrated into a semiconductor chip. Potential applications include frequency stabilization for lasers, gas-detection sensors, and quantum information processing. “To stabilize lasers, people use precision spectroscopy with bulk rubidium-vapor cells. We could build a little integrated frequency-stabilization chip that would do that more easily than a conventional frequency-stabilization circuit,” said Holger Schmidt, at UC Santa Cruz, who co-led the research effort with Aaron Hawkins of BYU.

The key to the researchers’ achievement is their development of hollow-core optical waveguides based on antiresonant reflecting optical-waveguide (ARROW) principles (see www.laserfocusworld.com/articles/218569). To perform atomic spectroscopy, the researchers incorporated rubidium reservoirs into a chip, connecting the reservoirs to hollow-core waveguides so that the optical beam path was filled with rubidium atoms. The resulting vapor cell was completely self-contained and had an active cell volume about 80 million times smaller than a conventional cell. “We used rubidium as a proof of principle, but this technique is applicable to any gaseous medium. So it has potentially far-reaching implications,” Schmidt said. Contact Holger Schmidt at [email protected].

Sponsored Recommendations

March 31, 2025
Enhance your remote sensing capabilities with Chroma's precision-engineered optical filters, designed for applications such as environmental monitoring, geospatial mapping, and...
March 31, 2025
Designed for compatibility with a wide range of systems, Chroma's UV filters are engineered to feature high transmission, superior out-of-band blocking, steep edge transitions...
March 31, 2025
Discover strategies to balance component performance and system design, reducing development time and costs while maximizing efficiency.
March 31, 2025
Explore the essential role of optical filters in enhancing Raman spectroscopy measurements including the various filter types and their applications in improving signal-to-noise...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Laser Focus World, create an account today!