An ion-based atomic clock comprising an ion trap configured to trap a plurality of ions; and a micro-resonator-based frequency comb configured to directly drive a terahertz transition between metastable levels in the trapped plurality of ions. The micro-resonator-based frequency comb may be configured to directly drive a 24 terahertz transition in at least one Ba.sup.+ ion, a 8.4 terahertz transition in at least one Sr.sup.+ ion, or a 1.8 terahertz transition in at least one Ca.sup.+ ion. The micro-resonator-based frequency comb may be configured to provide output similar to a pulsed laser. The ion-based atomic clock may be free of a carrier-offset-stabilized frequency comb. The ion-based atomic clock may comprise a mini-vacuum ion trap assembly. Polarization of the micro-resonator-based frequency comb may be tuned to make the ion-based atomic clock be insensitive to laser light power fluctuations.

An ion-based atomic clock comprising an ion trap configured to trap a plurality of ions; and a micro-resonator-based frequency comb configured to directly drive a terahertz transition between metastable levels in the trapped plurality of ions. The micro-resonator-based frequency comb may be configured to directly drive a 24 terahertz transition in at least one Ba.sup.+ ion, a 8.4 terahertz transition in at least one Sr.sup.+ ion, or a 1.8 terahertz transition in at least one Ca.sup.+ ion. The micro-resonator-based frequency comb may be configured to provide output similar to a pulsed laser. The ion-based atomic clock may be free of a carrier-offset-stabilized frequency comb. The ion-based atomic clock may comprise a mini-vacuum ion trap assembly. Polarization of the micro-resonator-based frequency comb may be tuned to make the ion-based atomic clock be insensitive to laser light power fluctuations.

An optically pumped, flowing gas, alkali metal laser includes a gas passageway transporting an alkali metal vapor and a hydrocarbon buffer gas, and a laser propagation passageway intersects the gas passageway and forms a main cell at the intersection. A pump laser is directed into the main cell and produces a main laser beam in the laser propagation passageway. The flowing hydrocarbon buffer gas is disposed in the main cell with a density to induce spin-orbit relaxation in the alkali metal vapor. At least one window is disposed in the laser propagation passageway, and the window is protected from deposits of alkali metal or carbon by a heated leading edge in the laser propagation passageway that re-vaporizes alkali metal and returns it to the gas passageway via a convective gas flow. The window is further protected by a cold block that liquefies alkali metal and by a colder block that solidifies alkali metal in the laser propagation passageway.

An optically pumped, flowing gas, alkali metal laser includes a gas passageway transporting an alkali metal vapor and a hydrocarbon buffer gas, and a laser propagation passageway intersects the gas passageway and forms a main cell at the intersection. A pump laser is directed into the main cell and produces a main laser beam in the laser propagation passageway. The flowing hydrocarbon buffer gas is disposed in the main cell with a density to induce spin-orbit relaxation in the alkali metal vapor. At least one window is disposed in the laser propagation passageway, and the window is protected from deposits of alkali metal or carbon by a heated leading edge in the laser propagation passageway that re-vaporizes alkali metal and returns it to the gas passageway via a convective gas flow. The window is further protected by a cold block that liquefies alkali metal and by a colder block that solidifies alkali metal in the laser propagation passageway.

A laser using a laser diode and a narrow wavelength from a resonant atomic transition of a predetermined material. The gain range of the laser diode encompasses the wavelength of the resonant atomic transition. A vapor cell containing a material, such as a metal vapor, providing the resonant atomic transition forming the predetermined wavelength is placed between permanent magnets. In one embodiment the vapor cell has opposing windows positioned at a Brewster's angle and rotated 90 relative to each other. The laser produces a very narrow bandwidth of a predetermined wavelength with high power. The laser configuration eliminates several optical components reducing cost.

A laser using a laser diode and a narrow wavelength from a resonant atomic transition of a predetermined material. The gain range of the laser diode encompasses the wavelength of the resonant atomic transition. A vapor cell containing a material, such as a metal vapor, providing the resonant atomic transition forming the predetermined wavelength is placed between permanent magnets. In one embodiment the vapor cell has opposing windows positioned at a Brewster's angle and rotated 90 relative to each other. The laser produces a very narrow bandwidth of a predetermined wavelength with high power. The laser configuration eliminates several optical components reducing cost.

A degenerate four-wave mixing (DFWM) squeezed light apparatus includes one or more pump beams, a probe beam, a vapor cell, a repump beam, and a detector. The one or more pump beams includes an input power of no greater than about 150 mW. The vapor cell includes an atomic vapor configured to interact with overlapped pump and probe beams to generate an amplified probe beam and a conjugate beam. The repump beam is configured to optically pump the atomic vapor to a ground state and decrease atomic decoherence of the atomic vapor. The detector is configured to measure squeezing due to quantum correlations between the amplified probe beam and the conjugate beam. The one or more pump beams, the probe beam, and the repump beam are configured to generate two-mode squeezed light by DFWM with squeezing of at least 3 dB below shot noise.

A degenerate four-wave mixing (DFWM) squeezed light apparatus includes one or more pump beams, a probe beam, a vapor cell, a repump beam, and a detector. The one or more pump beams includes an input power of no greater than about 150 mW. The vapor cell includes an atomic vapor configured to interact with overlapped pump and probe beams to generate an amplified probe beam and a conjugate beam. The repump beam is configured to optically pump the atomic vapor to a ground state and decrease atomic decoherence of the atomic vapor. The detector is configured to measure squeezing due to quantum correlations between the amplified probe beam and the conjugate beam. The one or more pump beams, the probe beam, and the repump beam are configured to generate two-mode squeezed light by DFWM with squeezing of at least 3 dB below shot noise.

Gaseous laser systems and related techniques are disclosed. Techniques disclosed herein may be utilized, in accordance with some embodiments, in providing a gaseous laser system with a configuration that provides (A) pump illumination with distinct edge surfaces for an extended depth and (B) an output beam illumination from a resonator cavity with distinct edges in its reflectivity profile, thereby providing (C) pump beam and resonator beam illumination on a volume so that the distinct edge surfaces of its pump and resonator beam illumination are shared-edge surfaces with (D) further edge surfaces of the amplifier volume at the surfaces illuminated directly by the pump or resonator beams, as defined by optical windows and (optionally) by one or more flowing gas curtains depleted of the alkali vapor flowing along those optical windows. Techniques disclosed herein may be implemented, for example, in a diode-pumped alkali laser (DPAL) system, in accordance with some embodiments.

Gaseous laser systems and related techniques are disclosed. Techniques disclosed herein may be utilized, in accordance with some embodiments, in providing a gaseous laser system with a configuration that provides (A) pump illumination with distinct edge surfaces for an extended depth and (B) an output beam illumination from a resonator cavity with distinct edges in its reflectivity profile, thereby providing (C) pump beam and resonator beam illumination on a volume so that the distinct edge surfaces of its pump and resonator beam illumination are shared-edge surfaces with (D) further edge surfaces of the amplifier volume at the surfaces illuminated directly by the pump or resonator beams, as defined by optical windows and (optionally) by one or more flowing gas curtains depleted of the alkali vapor flowing along those optical windows. Techniques disclosed herein may be implemented, for example, in a diode-pumped alkali laser (DPAL) system, in accordance with some embodiments.