Cell-based stabilized laser sources and light-shifts in pulsed Rb atomic clocks

We report on a narrow-linewidth diode laser source emitting at 780 nm, based on frequency doubling from 1.56 μm, which is frequency stabilized on the D2 transition line of Rubidium (Rb). This compact laser source shows a frequency stability of 2·10
^-12
at 1 s and <; 5·10
^-12
for τ up to 10
⁴
s. This laser source is evaluated in a modular four-laser setup to identify and locate the sources of instabilities. In view of the lasers' applications to vapor-cell Rb atomic clocks, we also studied the various light-shift coefficients in a pulsed optically-pumped Rb clock. Finally, we evaluate the impact of the frequency and intensity instabilities of the frequency-doubled optical sources on the clock stability.