A compact and robust diode laser system for atom interferometry on a sounding rocket
V. Schkolnik1,5, O. Hellmig3, A. Wenzlawski2, J. Grosse4,6, A. Kohfeldt5, K. Döringshoff1, A. Wicht1,5, P. Windpassinger2, K. Sengstock3, C. Braxmaier4,6, M. Krutzik1, A. Peters1,5
Published in:
Appl. Phys. B, vol. 122, no. 8, p. 122:217 (2016).
Abstract:
We present a diode laser system optimized for laser cooling and atom interferometry with ultra-cold rubidium atoms aboard sounding rockets as an important milestone toward space-borne quantum sensors. Design, assembly and qualification of the system, combing microintegrated distributed feedback (DFB) diode laser modules and free space optical bench technology, is presented in the context of the MAIUS (Matter-wave Interferometry in Microgravity) mission. This laser system, with a volume of 21 l and total mass of 27 kg, passed all qualification tests for operation on sounding rockets and is currently used in the integrated MAIUS flight system producing Bose-Einstein condensates and performing atom interferometry based on Bragg diffraction. The MAIUS payload is being prepared for launch in fall 2016. We further report on a reference laser system, comprising a rubidium stabilized DFB laser, which was operated successfully on the TEXUS 51 mission in April 2015. The system demonstrated a high level of technological maturity by remaining frequency stabilized throughout the mission including the rocket's boost phase.
1 Institut für Physik, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Newtonstr. 15, 12489 Berlin, Germany
2 Institut für Physik, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, 55099 Mainz, Germany
3 Institut für Laserphysik, Universität Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
4 Zentrum für angewandte Raumfahrttechnologie und Mikrogravitation (ZARM), Universität Bremen, Am Fallturm, 28359 Bremen, Germany
5 Ferdinand-Braun-Institut, Leibniz-Institut für Höchstfrequenztechnik, Gustav-Kirchhoff-Straße 4, D-12489 Berlin, Germany
6 Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), Institut für Raumfahrtsysteme, Robert-Hooke-Str. 7, 28359 Bremen, Germany
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