Compact Narrow-band Laser Sources for Atom-based Sensors Navy SBIR FY2011.2 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2011.2 Topic No.: N112-104 Topic Title: Compact Narrow-band Laser Sources for Atom-based Sensors Proposal No.: N112-104-0109 Firm: CU Aerospace 301 North Neil St. Suite 400 Champaign, Illinois 61820-3169 Contact: David Carroll Phone: (217) 239-1703 Web Site: http://cuaerospace.com Abstract: The primary objective of Phase I work performed by the team of CU Aerospace and the University of Illinois is to produce single-mode, high power (> 1 W), narrow linewidth (< 100 kHz), diode lasers with no mode hop for pumping alkali (Rb and Cs) atoms and verify their application to atomic sensors and clocks. This effort will involve novel laser-amplifier diode architecture to enable such high performance devices. These advances will have a major impact on alkali laser based clocks and sensor systems. The results of this Phase I research will lay the foundation for developing enhanced performance single mode diode laser packages with goals of high power (> 2 W) and very narrow linewidth (< 10 kHz) in Phase II. Optimized designs will be fabricated and tested extensively with detailed diagnostics to evaluate each design's performance attributes in Phase II. Our team partner the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign will perform fundamental research to assist CU Aerospace with the optimization and testing of these diode lasers. Employment of the state-of-the-art and economical Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory at the University of Illinois will allow these innovative laser diode technologies to be fabricated, implemented, and examined in detail. Benefits: The resulting high-power, narrow linewidth, single-mode diode lasers will have major implications for the alkali atom-based sensor and clock systems. The results of this research will be enabling for next-generation atom sensors and clocks. Return