QuDOS II: Quantum technologies using Diffractive Optical Structures (Phase II)

该项目将开发一种用于制备冷原子样品的紧凑和简化的装置，用于一系列传感、计时和计算应用。传统上，需要多个激光束来激光冷却和捕获原子，并且随之而来的是机械框架内的光学部件的相应开销。结果是由于诸如振动的环境影响而增加了系统中的未对准的风险。激光冷却不足以产生玻色-爱因斯坦凝聚，因为它不能达到微开尔文尺度以下的温度。因此，需要额外的机制，例如蒸发冷却。这就需要使用额外的捕获势，这是通过磁陷阱或远离共振光偶极子陷阱形成的。在这里，我们提出了一种创新的方法，只使用一个激光器的激光冷却和随后的光学偶极捕获的原子。我们将首先使用斯特拉斯克莱德开发的和以前合格的光栅MOT方法来创建超冷原子，其中冷却和捕获所需的所有光束都由光栅芯片反射的单个光束产生。磁阱中的短（~ 1 s）预冷却阶段之后将是混合磁光阱系统，从该点有一个良好记录的蒸发冷却路径。MSquared Lasers开发的钛蓝宝石激光器的快速调谐将使系统能够快速适应偶极阱的需求，具有高功率（> 1 W）和原子共振的大失谐（~ 100 nm）。这种方法将简化创建玻色-爱因斯坦凝聚体所需的激光系统，同时增加鲁棒性并消除用户输入。在该项目中，合作伙伴将开发所需的系统，以在扫描下一个周期的波长后快速重新锁定激光器到激光冷却过渡。这些技术与量子技术有着广泛的相关性，因为它是原子传感设备（包括重力仪和惯性传感器）的核心平台。该项目将斯特拉斯克莱德大学的学术卓越与M Squared Lasers的工业专业知识结合起来，利用英国研究基地的这一世界领先的创新。我们将通过在工业环境中调试芯片陷阱，增强技术并展示测量能力，使其更接近商业化。

The project will develop a compact and simplified apparatus for the preparation of cold atomic samples for a range of sensing, timing and computing applications. Conventionally, multiple laser beams are required to laser cool and trap atoms and, with this, comes a corresponding overhead of optical components within a mechanical framework. An outcome is an increased risk of misalignment in the system due to environmental effects, such as vibrations. Laser cooling is not sufficient for the creation of a Bose-Einstein condensate, as it cannot reach temperatures below the microKelvin scale. Therefore, additional mechanisms, such as evaporative cooling are required. This necessitates the use of additional trapping potentials, which are formed through magnetic traps or far-off-resonant optical-dipole traps. Here, we propose an innovative approach of using only a single laser for both laser cooling and subsequent optical dipole trapping of atoms. We will initially use the Strathclyde-developed and previously qualified approach of a grating-MOT for creation of ultracold atoms, in which all the beams required for cooling and trapping are generated by a single beam reflected from a grating chip. A short (~1s) pre-cooling phase in a magnetic trap will be followed by a hybrid magnetic-optical trapping system, from which point there is a well-documented path for evaporative cooling. The rapid tuning of the MSquared Lasers-developed titanium-sapphire laser will enable the system to rapidly adapt to the needs of an dipole trap, with high power (>1W) and large detuning (~100nm) from atomic resonance. This approach will simplify the laser systems required for creation of a Bose-Einstein condensate, at the same time adding increased robustness and eliminating user input. In the project the partners will develop the required systems to rapidly re-lock the laser to the laser cooling transition after scanning the wavelength for the next cycle. The techniques have wide relevance to quantum technologies as the form a core stage for atomic sensing devices including gravimeters, and inertial sensors. The project brings the academic excellence of the University of Strathclyde together with the industrial know-how of M Squared Lasers to exploit this world-leading innovation from the UK's research base. We will take it closer to commercialisation by commissioning a chip trap within an industrial environment, enhancing the technique and demonstrating measurement capability.