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Saturated absorption spectroscopy of rubidium and feedback control of LASER frequency for Doppler cooling
Author(s)
Wyngaard, Adrian Leigh
Date Issued
2018
Type
Thesis
Publisher
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Abstract
This research investigates the absorption spectra of rubidium and the feedback
control of an external cavity diode laser. This research is a necessary
prerequisite for laser (Doppler) cooling and trapping of rubidium atoms.
Cooling rubidium atoms down to such low temperatures can be achieved
using the Doppler cooling technique. Here a laser is tuned to remain resonant
with a speci c atomic transition. To do this, the absorption spectra of
rubidium must therefore be observed. All of the above require a reasonable
knowledge about topics such as atomic physics, laser cooling and trapping,
feedback control systems, and absorption spectroscopy. A discussion of these
topics is provided.
We have utilised an experimental setup which allowed for measurements
of the Doppler broadened and Doppler free absorption spectra of rubidium,
as well the analysis of the Zeeman e ect on the Doppler free spectra. The
setup consisted of a saturated absorption spectrometer for high resolution
spectroscopy and a Michelson interferometer for calibrating our measurements.
In analysing the Zeeman e ect we added a set of Helmholtz coils to
the saturated absorption spectroscopy arrangement to measure the splitting
of the hyper ne energy levels.
control of an external cavity diode laser. This research is a necessary
prerequisite for laser (Doppler) cooling and trapping of rubidium atoms.
Cooling rubidium atoms down to such low temperatures can be achieved
using the Doppler cooling technique. Here a laser is tuned to remain resonant
with a speci c atomic transition. To do this, the absorption spectra of
rubidium must therefore be observed. All of the above require a reasonable
knowledge about topics such as atomic physics, laser cooling and trapping,
feedback control systems, and absorption spectroscopy. A discussion of these
topics is provided.
We have utilised an experimental setup which allowed for measurements
of the Doppler broadened and Doppler free absorption spectra of rubidium,
as well the analysis of the Zeeman e ect on the Doppler free spectra. The
setup consisted of a saturated absorption spectrometer for high resolution
spectroscopy and a Michelson interferometer for calibrating our measurements.
In analysing the Zeeman e ect we added a set of Helmholtz coils to
the saturated absorption spectroscopy arrangement to measure the splitting
of the hyper ne energy levels.
Additional information
Thesis (MTech (Electrical Engineering))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2018.
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210176296-Wyngaard-Adrian-MEng-Electrical-Engineering-Eng-2018.pdf
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