MacV: VCSELs For Miniature Atomic Clocks

Compact coherent population trapping (CPT) based clocks require single-mode, low-power consumption, high-speed and polarization-stable laser sources. We report our progress in developing customized vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) diodes designed for operating on the D1 transition of cesium, and specifically tailored for CPT-based atomic clocks. The VCSELs provide high power (>1 mW), narrow linewidths (<; 100 MHz), mode-hop free tunability over 8 nm, and are shown to be polarization stable over a wide range of operating bias conditions (average polarization suppression >15 dB). Preliminary spectroscopy has been observed.