Autoren:	Mihm, Moritz
Titel:	Laser System Technology for Quantum Experiments in Space and beyond
Online-Publikationsdatum:	15-Dez-2020
Erscheinungsdatum:	2020
Sprache des Dokuments:	Englisch
Zusammenfassung/Abstract:	This thesis includes technologies and techniques for the development of compact and robust laser systems for use in harsh environments, e.g. in space. Since the first laser was launched into space on Apollo 15 almost 50 years ago, laser technologies have been established for space applications such as optical communication, remote sensing, or quantum technologies. Many of the quantum technology applications are based on cold atom experiments and rely on laser systems, i.e. not only on laser light sources, but also on optical systems for beam guidance and manipulation. Operating a quantum apparatus in harsh environments places high demands on the experiment and especially the laser system in terms of mechanical and thermal stability. In addition, the systems typically have size, weight, and power budget restrictions. For this purpose, I present developments that advance the state of the art towards more compact laser systems. In the framework of the underlying technology, fiber-coupled optical modules are assembled by mounting free-space optics on a baseplate made of Zerodur, a glass ceramic with vanishing coefficient of thermal expansion. To reduce the package size, I introduce an optical element which allows one to separate superimposed beams of different diffraction orders directly behind acousto-optic modulators, whereas the conventional approach of spatial separation requires a beam path of the order of at least 10cm. The element was first implemented on the optical modules for the sounding rocket missions MAIUS-2 and MAIUS-3. During the approximately 6min in reduced gravity on each flight, atom interferometry is performed with Bose-Einstein condensates of potassium and rubidium to test the weak equivalence principle. A further reduction of the package size is possible by implementing the technique presented for simultaneous laser frequency stabilization on transitions of multiple atomic species with a single optical setup. The method enables one to develop versatile and compact frequency reference modules for multi-species experiments. Paving the way to fully integrated quantum optical systems, I also discuss efforts to build flange-less vacuum systems based on Zerodur. By combining vacuum chambers with the modular laser system technology, a platform for robust and compact quantum sensor applications is created. With space-qualified technology also being suitable for other applications in harsh environments, I further present an optical module for transportable optical clocks. As this example demonstrates, there are numerous applications that would benefit from the advantages of the technologies and techniques presented – in space and beyond.
DDC-Sachgruppe:	500 Naturwissenschaften 500 Natural sciences and mathematics 530 Physik 530 Physics
Veröffentlichende Institution:	Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
Organisationseinheit:	FB 08 Physik, Mathematik u. Informatik
Veröffentlichungsort:	Mainz
ROR:	https://ror.org/023b0x485
DOI:	http://doi.org/10.25358/openscience-5498
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hebis:77-openscience-023d484a-5932-496d-bc55-cbaa152446f21
Version:	Original work
Publikationstyp:	Dissertation
Nutzungsrechte:	Urheberrechtsschutz
Informationen zu den Nutzungsrechten:	https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en
Umfang:	e, v, 101 Seiten
Enthalten in den Sammlungen:	JGU-Publikationen