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arXiv · 1610.09341

Autonomous frequency stabilization of two extended cavity diode lasers at the potassium wavelength on a sounding rocket

Aline N. Dinkelaker·Max Schiemangk·Vladimir Schkolnik·Andrew Kenyon·Kai Lampmann·André Wenzlawski·Patrick Windpassinger·Ortwin Hellmig·Thijs Wendrich·Ernst M. Rasel·Michele Giunta·Christian Deutsch·Christian Kürbis·Robert Smol·Andreas Wicht·Markus Krutzik·Achim Peters
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Abstract

We have developed, assembled, and flight-proven a stable, compact, and autonomous extended cavity diode laser (ECDL) system designed for atomic physics experiments in space. To that end, two micro-integrated ECDLs at 766.7 nm were frequency stabilized during a sounding rocket flight by means of frequency modulation spectroscopy (FMS) of 39^K and offset locking techniques based on the beat note of the two ECDLs. The frequency stabilization as well as additional hard- and software to test hot redundancy mechanisms were implemented as part of a state-machine, which controlled the experiment completely autonomously throughout the entire flight mission.

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Aline N. Dinkelaker, Max Schiemangk, Vladimir Schkolnik, Andrew Kenyon, Kai Lampmann, André Wenzlawski, Patrick Windpassinger, Ortwin Hellmig, Thijs Wendrich, Ernst M. Rasel, Michele Giunta, Christian Deutsch, Christian Kürbis, Robert Smol, Andreas Wicht, Markus Krutzik, Achim Peters. 2016-10-28. Autonomous frequency stabilization of two extended cavity diode lasers at the potassium wavelength on a sounding rocket. https://doi.org/10.1364/ao.56.001388

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