Laser frequency stabilization for trapped Yb+ experiments
| dc.contributor.advisor | Steenkamp, Christine M. | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.author | Janse van Rensburg, Deon Anton | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.other | Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Science. Dept. of Physics. | en_ZA |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2020-11-30T12:21:19Z | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2021-01-31T19:46:05Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2020-11-30T12:21:19Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2021-01-31T19:46:05Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2020-12 | |
| dc.description | Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2020. | en_ZA |
| dc.description.abstract | ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This project sets out to frequency stabilize external cavity diode lasers of wavelengths = 935 nm and 739 nm, with an eye to Ytterbium-171 ion trapping. The desired laser linewidths were below 1 MHz at 1 second observation time and the desired long term frequency drifts were below a megahertz over the course of a few hours. To stabilize the lasers, two Pound-Drever-Hall laser frequency stabilisation systems were designed, constructed and characterized. The optical frequency references used were sub-megahertz linewidth optical cavities with Invar spacers. These cavities were designed and constructed inhouse. The achieved long term stability of the stabilized lasers was 1 MHz/h over a 5 hour measurement period. The laser frequency long term stabilities are limited by the thermal stabilities of the cavity spacers. The post stabilisation laser frequency noise was lowered when compared to the free running lasers. This was observed by determining the laser frequency noise power spectral densities. From the frequency noise power spectral densities lower bounds on the locked laser linewidths were established. This lower bound is 11.92 kHz for the 739 nm wavelength laser at 1 second observation time and 5.4 kHz for the 935 nm wavelength laser. An additional system was designed and constructed to stabilize the 935 nm wavelength laser to an in-house built piezo electrically tunable cavity noise power spectral densities to simultaneously stabilize the length of the cavity to a microwave frequency referenced to a Rubidium frequency standard. Technical limitations (optical feedback into the the 935 nm wavelength laser cavity) prohibited the implementation of a stable lock of the cavity length. | en_ZA |
| dc.description.abstract | AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van die projek is om die frekwensies van diodelasers met eksterne resonansholtes te stabiliseer. Die lasers, met golflengtes = 935 nm en 739 nm, vorm deel van ’n Ytterbium 171 ioonval Die mikpunt was om die laserlynwydte te vernou tot minder as 1 MHz vir ’n sekond lange meeting. Die langtermyn dryf van die laser frekwensies moes ook tot minder as ’n MHz oor ’n paar uur verminder word. Om die lasers te stabiliseer is twee Pound-Drever-Hall laserfrekwensie stabiliseerings sisteme ontwerp, gebou en getoets. Die optiese frekwensie verwysings is twee optiese holtes wat ook ontwerp en gebou is vir hierdie projek. Die langtermyn dryf van die gestibilseerde lasers was 1 MHz/h, soos beperk deur die termiese stabiliteit van die optiese holtes se lengtes. ’n Vermindering in die gestabaliseerde laserslynwydte is waargeneem. Hierdie is bepaal deur die frewkwensie geraas van die lasers te meet. Die gemete laser frekwensie geraas is gebruik om die minimum verwagte laser lynwydtes vas te stel. Hierdie waardes is bepaal as 11.92 kHz vir die 739 nm golflengte laser vir ’n sekonde lange meeting en 5.4 kHz vir die 935 nm golflengte laser. ’n Addisionele optiese holte met verstelbare lengte is ook ontwerp en gebou. Hierdie holte het deel gevorm van ’n sisteem wat die laser met die hulp van ’n optiese holte stabiliseer en tergelyktydig die lengte van die holte met behulp van ’n stabiele mikrogolf frekwensie stabilisieer. Hierdie sisteem is onsuksesvol weens tegniese probleme, naamlik optiese terugvoer in die laser in. | af_ZA |
| dc.description.sponsorship | The financial assistance of the National Research Foundation (NRF) towards this research is hereby acknowledged. Opinions expressed and conclusions arrived at, are those of the author and are not necessarily to be attributed to the NRF. | en_ZA |
| dc.description.version | Masters | en_ZA |
| dc.format.extent | xi, 74 pages : illustrations | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/109351 | |
| dc.language.iso | en_ZA | en_ZA |
| dc.publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University | en_ZA |
| dc.rights.holder | Stellenbosch University | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Laser frequency stabiliazation | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Diode lasers | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Ytterbium-171 ion trapping | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Laser spectroscopy -- Stability | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Trapped ions | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | UCTD | |
| dc.title | Laser frequency stabilization for trapped Yb+ experiments | en_ZA |
| dc.type | Thesis | en_ZA |