arXiv subjects

Travis Autry

Publications and source records attributed to Travis Autry.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Controlling light shifts in chip-scale atomic beam clocks

Chip-scale atomic beam clocks are being investigated to extend the range of clock stability achievable in low-power timing applications. Here, we demonstrate a centimeter-scale, Ramsey coherent population trapping (CPT) clock based on a microfabricated Cs atomic beam device and investigate the interplay between light shifts and Doppler shifts that determines its leading clock systematics. We show that these shifts exhibit competing dependencies on CPT light parameters, leading to ``doubly-insensitive" operating points where the clock frequency is simultaneously insensitive to laser frequency and power. We further demonstrate a method for controlling key clock shifts using spectroscopic signatures from the atomic beam that is compatible with fully-integrated operation. The clock achieves a fractional frequency stability of $2 \times 10^{-10}$ at $1~\textrm{s}$ and sub-$\mu$s drift over nearly $17~\textrm{hours}$, with leading CPT light systematics controlled below the $10^{-12}$ level.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2025

Doppler Shift Mitigation in a Chip-Scale Atomic Beam Clock

Chip-scale microwave atomic systems based on thermal atomic beams offer a promising approach to realize low-power and low-drift clocks for timing holdover applications. Miniature beam clocks are expected to suppress many of the shifts that commonly limit existing chip-scale atomic clocks based on coherent population trapping, including collisional shifts and some light shifts. However, the beam geometry can amplify some challenges such as Doppler shifts, which generate a strong sensitivity to laser frequency variation. Using a cm-scale 87Rb atom beam clock, we identify a surprisingly strong competition between Doppler shifts and resonant light shifts arising from asymmetric decay in the clock spectroscopy {\Lambda}-system. Leveraging this competition between Doppler and resonant light shifts, we demonstrate clock operation at specific, convenient experimental parameters consistent with zero sensitivity to laser frequency variation and white-noise-limited clock frequency averaging for 1000 s of integration.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2022

Large Single-Phonon Optomechanical Coupling between Quantum Dots and Tightly Confined Surface Acoustic Waves in the Quantum Regime

Surface acoustic waves (SAWs) coupled to quantum dots (QDs), trapped atoms and ions, and point defects have been proposed as quantum transduction platforms, yet the requisite coupling rates and cavity lifetimes have not been experimentally established. Although the interaction mechanism varies, small acoustic cavities with large zero-point motion are required for high efficiencies. We experimentally establish the feasibility of this platform through electro- and opto-mechanical characterization of tightly focusing, single-mode Gaussian SAW cavities at $\sim$3.6 GHz on GaAs. We explore the performance limits of the platform by fabricating SAW cavities with mode volumes approaching 6$\lambda^3$ and linewidths $\leq$1 MHz. Employing strain-coupled single InAs QDs as optomechanical intermediaries, we measure single-phonon optomechanical coupling rates $g_0 \approx 2\pi \times 1.2$ MHz. Sideband scattering rates thus exceed intrinsic phonon loss, indicating the potential for quantum optical readout and transduction of cavity phonon states. To demonstrate the feasibility of this platform for low-noise ground-state quantum transduction, we develop a fiber-based confocal microscope in a dilution refrigerator and perform single-QD resonance fluorescence sideband spectroscopy at mK temperatures. These measurements show conversion between microwave phonons and optical photons with sub-natural linewidths.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2021

Quantum phase modulation with acoustic cavities and quantum dots

Fast, efficient, and low power modulation of light at microwave frequencies is crucial for chip-scale classical and quantum processing as well as for long-range networks of superconducting quantum processors. A successful approach to bridge the gap between microwave and optical photons has been to use intermediate platforms such as acoustic waves, which can couple efficiently to a variety of quantum systems. Here, we use gigahertz-frequency focusing surface acoustic wave cavities on GaAs that are piezo-electrically coupled to superconducting circuits and parametrically coupled, via strain, to photons scattered from InAs quantum dots . We demonstrate strong modulation of single photons with a half-wave voltage as low as 44 mV, and subnatural modulation sideband linewidths. These demonstrations pave the way for efficient and low-noise transduction of quantum information between microwave and optical domains.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2018

Moir\'e Excitons in Van der Waals Heterostructures

In van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures formed by stacking two monolayer semiconductors, lattice mismatch or rotational misalignment introduces an in-plane moir\'e superlattice. While it is widely recognized that a moir\'e superlattice can modulate the electronic band structure and lead to novel transport properties including unconventional superconductivity and insulating behavior driven by correlations, its influence on optical properties has not been investigated experimentally. We present spectroscopic evidence that interlayer excitons are confined by the moir\'e potential in a high-quality MoSe2/WSe2 heterobilayer with small rotational twist. A series of interlayer exciton resonances with either positive or negative circularly polarized emission is observed in photoluminescence, consistent with multiple exciton states confined within the moir\'e potential. The recombination dynamics and temperature dependence of these interlayer exciton resonances are consistent with this interpretation. These results demonstrate the feasibility of engineering artificial excitonic crystals using vdW heterostructures for nanophotonics and quantum information applications.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2018

Microsecond Valley Lifetime of Defect-Bound Excitons in Monolayer WSe$_2$

In atomically thin two-dimensional semiconductors such as transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), controlling the density and type of defects promises to be an effective approach for engineering light-matter interactions. We demonstrate that electron-beam irradiation is a simple tool for selectively introducing defect-bound exciton states associated with chalcogen vacancies in TMDs. Our first-principles calculations and time-resolved spectroscopy measurements of monolayer WSe2 reveal that these defect-bound excitons exhibit exceptional optical properties including a recombination lifetime approaching 200 ns and a valley lifetime longer than 1 $\mu$s. The ability to engineer the crystal lattice through electron irradiation provides a new approach for tailoring the optical response of TMDs for photonics, quantum optics, and valleytronics applications.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗