A compact and robust cooling laser system for an optical strontium lattice clock.

ABSTRACT

We present a simple and robust laser system for two-color, narrow-line cooling on the 87Sr (5s2)1S0 → (5s5p)3P1 transition. Two hyperfine lines of this transition are addressed simultaneously with light from a single laser source, using sidebands created by an electro-optical phase modulator. A tapered amplifier system provides laser powers up to 90 mW. We show that amplification does not affect the phase modulation of the laser. This compact and robust laser system offers excellent reliability. Therefore, it is especially well suited for transportable and spaceborne optical clocks. The design offers the potential to be miniaturized into a fully integrated package.