Compact laser system for a laser-cooled ytterbium ion microwave frequency standard

Abstract

The development of a transportable microwave frequency standard based on the ground-state transition of ${}^{171}\mathrm{Y}{\mathrm{b}}^{+}$ at ~12.6 GHz requires a compact laser system for cooling the ions, clearing out of long-lived states and also for photoionisation. In this paper, we describe the development of a suitable compact laser system based on a 6U height rack-mounted arrangement with overall dimensions $260\times 194\times 335$ mm. Laser outputs at 369 nm (for cooling), 399 nm (photoionisation), 935 nm (repumping) and 760 nm (state clearout) are combined in a fiber arrangement for delivery to our linear ion trap and we demonstrate this system by cooling of ${}^{171}\mathrm{Y}{\mathrm{b}}^{+}$ ions. Additionally, we demonstrate that the lasers at 935 nm and 760 nm are close in frequency to water vapor and oxygen absorption lines respectively; specifically, at 760 nm, we show that one ${}^{171}\mathrm{Y}{\mathrm{b}}^{+}$ transition is within the pressure broadened profile of an oxygen line. These molecular transitions form convenient wavelength references for the stabilization of lasers for a ${}^{171}\mathrm{Y}{\mathrm{b}}^{+}$ frequency standard.

12 pages, 7 figures. (Fig 3 added since previous submission - now published)