Skip to main content

Tools for Laser Stabilization for Space-Based Atom Quantum Sensors

Running

Running

Prime contractor
Organisational Unit
22 September 2023

Duration: 36 months

Objective

Background & Motivation:
​Gravity field mapping from space provides crucial information for the understanding of climate change, hydro/biosphere evolution, and tectonics and earthquake prediction. Atom-interferometric Quantum Sensors offer far superior long-term stability and higher sensitivity. Thus atom-quantum-sensors are considered by ESA as being part of a potential future instrument. ESA’s future geodesy mission will include quantum sensors as a candidate for the following mission. Similarly, the EU is planning a dedicated atom-interferometric EO-mission. Especially at ESA, there has been a large effort at ESA-EOP and TEC over the past 10 years developing quantum sensor and the related subsystems, the implementation of which has been accepted by the adoption of the MAGIC/NGGM as gravity mission at the last ESA ministerial. The following mission will include quantum sensor and this PhD is very well aligned with the timeframe.The Challenge​ Atom-quantum sensors rely on the probing and manipulation of atoms using lasers, which in turn must be stabilized and controlled with extreme precision and reliability. Lasers are stabilized using atomic references. Most earth-bound laser-stabilization systems rely on frequency modulation saturation spectroscopy. Since the lasers have to be free of any sidebands, this requires complex radiofrequency modulation using external electro- or acousto- optic modulators.​

The Proposal​
In this project, we will develop a novel spectroscopy for laser stabilization. It will be based on Zeeman modulating the atomic resonance as opposed to the laser itself. This eliminates the need for external laser-frequency modulation devices. We will address the crucial points of sensitivity to laser-intensity noise, temperature fluctuations and magnetic field sensitivity. Finally, we will apply the optical-beam steering techniques (OBST) recently-developed by us for ESA, in order to achieve maximal stability with minimal system-complexity.​

Contract number
4000142555
Programme
OSIP Idea Id
I-2022-02067
Related OSIP Campaign
Open Channel
Main application area
Science
Budget
90000€
Tools for Laser Stabilization for Space-Based Atom Quantum Sensors