Extreme nonlinear response of ultranarrow optical transitions in cavity QED for laser stabilization

TY - JOUR

T1 - Extreme nonlinear response of ultranarrow optical transitions in cavity QED for laser stabilization

AU - Martin, M. J.

AU - Meiser, D.

AU - Thomsen, Jan Westenkær

AU - Ye, Jun

AU - Holland, M.J.

PY - 2011/12/5

Y1 - 2011/12/5

N2 - We explore the potential of direct spectroscopy of ultranarrow optical transitions of atoms localized in an optical cavity. In contrast to stabilization against a reference cavity, which is the approach currently used for the most highly stabilized lasers, stabilization against an atomic transition does not suffer from Brownian thermal noise. Spectroscopy of ultranarrow optical transitions in a cavity operates in a very highly saturated regime in which nonlinear effects such as bistability play an important role. From the universal behavior of the Jaynes-Cummings model with dissipation, we derive the fundamental limits for laser stabilization using direct spectroscopy of ultranarrow atomic lines. We find that, with current lattice clock experiments, laser linewidths of about 1 mHz can be achieved in principle, and the ultimate limitations of this technique are at the 1 μHz level.

AB - We explore the potential of direct spectroscopy of ultranarrow optical transitions of atoms localized in an optical cavity. In contrast to stabilization against a reference cavity, which is the approach currently used for the most highly stabilized lasers, stabilization against an atomic transition does not suffer from Brownian thermal noise. Spectroscopy of ultranarrow optical transitions in a cavity operates in a very highly saturated regime in which nonlinear effects such as bistability play an important role. From the universal behavior of the Jaynes-Cummings model with dissipation, we derive the fundamental limits for laser stabilization using direct spectroscopy of ultranarrow atomic lines. We find that, with current lattice clock experiments, laser linewidths of about 1 mHz can be achieved in principle, and the ultimate limitations of this technique are at the 1 μHz level.

U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevA.84.063813

DO - 10.1103/PhysRevA.84.063813

M3 - Journal article

SN - 2469-9926

VL - 84

SP - 063813

JO - Physical Review A (Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics)

JF - Physical Review A (Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics)

IS - 6

ER -