milliHertz Linewidth Continuous Superradiant Laser
We are working to realize an ultra-low noise laser in which the phase information of the laser is hidden in a collective state of strontium atoms that are laser cooled and trapped inside of a high finesse optical cavity. In previous work, we were able to observe pulses of superradiantly emitted light from the long-lived milliHertz strontium clock transition. The center frequency of the pulses of light was nearly a million times less sensitive to cavity noise than traditional approaches and had a fractional frequency stability of 7 x 10-16. This first-of-its-kind pulsed laser has inspired us to develop a continuous with a quantum-limited linewidth of a milliHertz or less. Such a laser that would enable next-generation searches for dark matter, geodesy based on general relativity, and atomic clocks.
Strontium Ring Cavity System
We have successfully built a ring cavity in which atoms can be loaded in one region and then transported in a light conveyor belt to a region where the atoms will undergo superradiant lasing. If successful, we believe fractional frequency stabilities at or below 5 x 10-18 at one second may be obtainable.
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