N112-151 TITLE: Multifunctional Laser Systems for Ultracold Matter Applications

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Air Platform, Ground/Sea Vehicles, Sensors

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PMA264 Advanced Avionics Development P-3

OBJECTIVE: The attainment of Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) in experimental physics laboratories in 1995 heralded a new era in ultracold atomic physics, which has led to laboratory-scale demonstrations of new frequency standards and sensors of transformational sensitivity. A critical step on the path to BEC was the emergence in the 1980s of semiconductor diode lasers, which greatly simplified the number and operational complexity of lasers needed for the many steps of cooling, initialization and readout of atoms. Transition of this laboratory science to Naval applications today requires (1) shrinking the ultracold atomic physics package and (2) reducing again the operational complexity of the associated laser systems. The first of these objectives is being addressed by a previous SBIR topic that is now in Phase II. The second is the subject of this topic.

The broad goal of this topic is to reduce the barriers to entry of scientists and engineers into the study of ultracold matter, thus facilitating the wide-ranging practical experimentation needed to transition ultracold science to Naval applications. In weighing the relative merits of particular approaches, proposers should consider which of them best address this goal. The particular objective of this topic is the development of a single laser module, with a compact power supply and control electronics, which can perform all of the laser functions required to cool and condense a gas vapor from initial ambient conditions down into the quantum degenerate regime (typically colder than 100 nanokelvin at a density of 10^13 atoms/cc, depending on the gas).

DESCRIPTION: To do this, existing laboratory laser systems for ultracold matter typically need to provide light at some 10 different wavelengths to a gas cell, during a cooling cycle that takes about the same number of discrete operations over a period of 0.1 to 1 second. The single module that we envisage would be able to cool at least one species according to a standard protocol, would fit into a standard 19" rack, including all power and control electronics. It would provide essentially a plug-and-play laser source for anyone who has an ultracold atom physics package (e.g. atomic oven, vacuum cell and electromagnetic trap).

The module should provide light suitable for an atomic species that has already been cooled to quantum degeneracy in some laboratory, e.g. Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Ca, Sr, Cr, Er, Yb, metastable noble gases, etc. This list is not exhaustive, and will grow in time. The specific subject species must be identified and details must be given of the actual laser cooling cycle that would be implemented. It would be an advantage for proposals to identify existing or emblematic physics packages with which the module could be used, with wider applicability is highly desired. For the same general functionality, reviewers will consider smaller footprint, lower power consumption, and simpler user interface as discriminators.
Overall, proposals should describe a path to ease-of-use ultracold matter systems that can be deployed outside advanced atomic physics laboratories. System reliability and projected cost of ownership will be considered in scoring.

PHASE I: Design of a multifunctional laser system consistent with the broad program goal stated above. Design to include detailed description of a laser cooling cycle with discussion of particular system functions needed to implement it. Delivery of engineering drawings and parts list for first Phase II prototype. Additional discriminators include: actual demonstration of laser cooling cycle using an existing system; innovative laser cooling schemes, if documented; choice of an atomic species that is particularly well suited to a prospective Naval application, if documented.

PHASE II: Construction of the prototype described in Phase I; testing of the prototype against specifications; validation of the prototype in an actual cooling cycle that leads to quantum degeneracy; construction of additional prototype models, as necessary, to hit performance targets or to reduce footprint, power consumption, cost, etc. Development of manufacturing, marketing and pricing plan for Production Model to be made available in Phase III. Construction of first Production Model.

PHASE III: Seeding of a few key research laboratories with Production Models, followed by marketing and sale of devices to customers in DoD laboratories and development activities, the defense electronics industry, government and industrial laboratories, and academia.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: The device would have uses in scientific research and education, as a training tool for laser applications and experiments. The laser and scientific instrument industries are potential beneficiaries of this topic.

REFERENCES:
(1) "Landmarks: Laser Cooling of Atoms," J. S. Bardi, Physical Review Focus vol. 21, no. 11 (2 April 2008), available at http://focus.aps.org/story/v21/st11

(2) "Simplified System for Creating a Bose�Einstein Condensate," H. J. Lewandowski, D. M. Harber, D. L. Whitaker and E. A. Cornell, J. Low. Temp. Phys. Vol. 132. pp 309-367 (2003)

(3) "Laser cooling and trapping of atoms," H. J. Metcalf and P. van der Straten, J. Opt. Soc. America B vol. 20, pp. 887-908 (2003)

(4) "Laser Cooling and Trapping (Graduate Texts in Contemporary Physics)" by Harold J. Metcalf and Peter van der Straten (Springer, New York 1999)

KEYWORDS: Laser; laser cooling; ultracold; atomic clock; Bose-Einstein condensation; quantum gas

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

DoD Notice:   Between April 26 and May 25, 2011, you may talk directly with the Topic Authors to ask technical questions about the topics. Their contact information is listed above. For reasons of competitive fairness, direct communication between proposers and topic authors is not allowed starting May 26, 2011, when DoD begins accepting proposals for this solicitation.

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