1Key Laboratory of Quantum Optics, and Center for Cold Atom Physics, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800 2University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049
Abstract:We implement optical pumping to prepare cold atoms in our prototype of the $^{87}$Rb space cold atom clock, which operates in the one-way mode. Several modifications are made on our previous physical and optical system. The effective atomic signal in the top detection zone is increased to 2.5 times with 87% pumping efficiency. The temperature of the cold atom cloud is increased by 1.4 $\mu$K. We study the dependences of the effective signal gain and pumping efficiency on the pumping laser intensity and detuning. The effects of $\sigma$ transition are discussed. This technique may be used in the future space cold atom clocks.
Fang F et al 2015 Frequency Control Symposium & the European Frequency and Time Forum (FCS), 2015 Joint Conference of the IEEE International (Denver, USA 12–16 April 2015) p 492