Light shifts in a pulsed cold-atom coherent-population-trapping clock

Published

April 10, 2015

Author(s)

Eric M. Blanshan, Elizabeth A. Donley, John E. Kitching

Abstract

Field-grade atomic clocks capable of primary standard performance in compact physics packages would be of significant value in a variety of applications. A cold-atom coherent population trapping clock featuring laser-cooled ⁸⁷Rb atoms and pulsed Ramsey interrogation is a strong candidate for this technology if the frequency biases can be minimized and controlled. Here we characterize the AC-stark effect in the lin I I lin CPT scheme, explaining observed light shifts in terms of contributions from coherent CPT-generating couplings and optical-pumping effects caused by incoherent light. Measurements are compared with existing and new theoretical treatments, and a laser configuration is identified that reduces clock drift from light shifts to -14 for the current system.

Citation

Physical Review Letters

Volume

91

Issue

4

Pub Type

Journals

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DOI Link

Keywords

Atomic clocks, coherent population trapping, laser-cooled atoms

Citation

Blanshan, E. , Donley, E. and Kitching, J. (2015), Light shifts in a pulsed cold-atom coherent-population-trapping clock, Physical Review Letters, [online], https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.91.041401 (Accessed October 8, 2025)