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

该项目将开发一种紧凑和简化的设备，用于制备一系列传感、定时和计算应用的冷原子样品。传统上，需要多个激光光束来激光冷却和捕获原子，随之而来的是机械框架内相应的光学元件开销。结果是，由于环境影响，如振动，系统中未对准的风险增加。激光冷却不足以产生玻色-爱因斯坦凝聚体，因为它不能达到微开尔文标度以下的温度。因此，需要额外的机制，如蒸发冷却。这就需要使用额外的俘获势能，这些势能是通过磁性陷阱或远距离共振的光学偶极陷阱形成的。在这里，我们提出了一种创新的方法，只使用一台激光来冷却原子和随后的光学偶极囚禁原子。我们最初将使用Strathclyde开发的、以前经过鉴定的光栅-MOT方法来创建超冷原子，在该方法中，冷却和俘获所需的所有光束都是由从光栅芯片反射的单个光束产生的。在磁捕获器中经过一个短的(~1s)预冷阶段之后，将会有一个磁光混合捕获系统，从这一点开始，就有了一条详细记载的蒸发冷却路径。M平方激光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陷阱的需要，具有高功率(~gt；1W)和大失谐(~100 nm)的原子共振。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，同时增加健壮性并消除用户输入。在该项目中，合作伙伴将开发所需的系统，以便在扫描下一个周期的波长后，迅速将激光重新锁定到激光冷却过渡。这些技术与量子技术具有广泛的相关性，因为它是包括重力仪和惯性传感器在内的原子传感设备的核心平台。该项目将斯特拉斯克莱德大学的卓越学术成就与M Squared激光器的工业技术相结合，从英国的研究基地开发这一世界领先的创新。我们将在工业环境中调试芯片捕捉器，增强技术并展示测量能力，从而使其更接近商业化。

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.