Lasers for rubidium-based quantum applications
Ultra-stable 780.24 nm DPSS laser for commercial-grade quantum sensing, atomic clocks, and Rubidium-based applications
Skylark Lasers’ 780 NX DPSS single frequency laser delivers up to 400 mW of ultra-stable NIR light at 780.24 nm. Purposely engineered for integration into quantum systems, the Skylark 780 NX provides narrow passive linewidth, long term frequency stability, and low noise performance for rubidium-based applications such as atomic clocks, quantum gravimeters and gradiometers, magnetometers, and neutral-atom quantum computers.
Combining Ti:Sapphire-level spectral purity with the compactness and robustness of a solid-state laser, the 780 NX enables reliable operation in field-deployable quantum sensors, navigation systems, and quantum communication interfaces. Whether advancing quantum sensing, frequency referencing, or optical cooling and trapping, the Skylark 780 NX provides research-grade performance in a rugged, field-deployable platform.
Narrow linewidth
≤ 13 kHz / 1 ms
Delivers ultra-stable, single frequency performance for rubidium-based quantum sensing, atomic clocks, and interferometry applications.
Low noise
≤ 0.3% RMS
Provides stable optical power for atom interferometry and Raman transitions, preventing laser noise from obscuring weak quantum signals.
Clean beam
M² ≤ 1.2
Consistent wavelength
± 0.2 pm
Maintains ± 0.2 pm wavelength stability over 8 hours, ensuring consistent calibration and spectral integrity.
APPLICATIONS
Ultra-stable laser performance enabling advances in quantum sensing, timing, and communication
The Skylark 780 NX is a single-frequency continuous-wave DPSS laser precisely engineered for the rubidium D₂ transition at 780 nm. Delivering up to 400 mW of single-mode power with < 1 MHz linewidth, low relative intensity noise, and long term wavelength stability better than 200 fm, the 780 NX provides the optical stability required for cutting-edge quantum technology research and deployment.
Low noise, compact footprint, and turnkey operation make it ideal for both laboratory and field-ready quantum systems — from atomic clocks and quantum gravimeters to communication interfaces and neutral-atom processors.
Each system can be tailored for your demanding and emerging quantum applications — supporting laser cooling, atomic state preparation, optical frequency referencing, and precision interferometry.
Atom cooling
The 780 NX provides the stable 780 nm light required to cool and trap rubidium atoms for quantum experiments and sensors. Its narrow linewidth and low amplitude noise enable long-lived magneto-optical traps and consistent loading conditions for cold-atom systems.
The 780 NX powers applications such as:
- Laser cooling and trapping of rubidium atoms
- Sub-Doppler cooling
- Rb MOTs (magneto-optical traps)
Optical referencing
With excellent frequency stability and single-mode operation, the 780 NX functions as a reference or seed laser in complex quantum and metrology systems. It provides a reliable optical carrier that can be directly locked to rubidium transitions or frequency combs for long-term stability.
- Rubidium frequency references
- Rubidium optical clocks
- Master oscillator or seed source for Raman and probe lasers
- Frequency calibration and optical referencing
Quantum measurement and sensing
Stable, low-noise laser output is essential for atom interferometry and quantum sensing, where laser phase noise directly affects sensitivity and measurement accuracy. The 780 NX’s spectral purity and robust design make it well suited to long interrogation sequences and deployment in non-laboratory environments.
- Quantum gravimetry and gravity gradiometry
- Quantum magnetometry and inertial sensing
- Raman transition beam splitters and atomic interferometers
- Quantum communication and frequency-conversion
Quantum and atomic applications
The Skylark 780 NX provides the stable, narrow-linewidth light required to manipulate and measure rubidium atoms at the heart of modern quantum technologies. From cooling and trapping atoms to defining optical frequency references and driving interferometric measurements, the 780 NX delivers reliable performance for both laboratory and field-deployable systems. Its single-frequency DPSS design combines excellent spectral purity with mechanical and thermal stability, supporting applications such as atomic clocks, quantum gravimeters, magnetometers, and communication interfaces. Grouped by their core function, the following sections outline how the 780 NX enables key tasks in rubidium-based quantum systems — including atom cooling and preparation, frequency stabilisation and optical referencing, and quantum measurement and sensing.
Quantum gravity gradiometry and gravimetry
Quantum gravity gradiometers and gravimeters measure minute variations in the Earth’s gravitational field using atom interferometry on the rubidium D₂ transition at 780 nm. These systems demand lasers with exceptional phase stability, narrow linewidths, and minimal intensity noise to maintain long interrogation times and precise phase control.
Traditionally, Ti:Sapphire lasers are used to provide spectral purity, wide tunability, and high power for atom interferometry applications. However, Ti:Sapphire systems are large, alignment-sensitive, and require active maintenance, which limits their suitability for portable or field operation.
Compact diode-based sources such as ECDLs and DFB lasers are emerging as options for field-deployable systems, but their frequency and amplitude noise are typically higher and they can exhibit mode hops or long-term drift due to their sensitivity to fluctuating temperatures and environmental changes.
A single frequency DPSS laser such as the 780 NX can provide stable output with low noise in a compact and robust format. With sub-Hz intrinsic linewidth, the Skylark 780 NX also offers significantly greater environmental stability and lower maintenance requirements, making it practical for gravity sensors intended to operate outside controlled laboratory conditions.
Rubidium atomic clocks and optical frequency references
Rubidium-based atomic clocks and optical frequency references depend on stable 780 nm light to interrogate the D₂ transition fo Rb 85 and Rb 87. Clock performance is sensitive to the laser’s frequency stability and noise characteristics.
Commercialised clocks typically use DFB or ECDL diode lasers because they are small, efficient, and cost-effective. These lasers can achieve linewidths in the sub-MHz range, but they require careful temperature and current control to avoid mode hops and frequency drift. Ti:Sapphire lasers have been used in research systems that need extremely low linewidths, though their size and complexity make them less suitable for continuous unattended operation.
A narrow linewidth DPSS laser provides an intermediate option, offering long term frequency stability and continuous single mode operation without the complexity of a Ti:Sapphire laser or the mode-hop risk of a diode system; simplifying the frequency-locking setup and improving long-term operational stability for clocks designed for commercial deployment.
Quantum magnetometry and inertial sensing
Quantum magnetometers and atom-interferometric accelerometers use the rubidium D₂ transition at 780 nm to sense magnetic fields and acceleration. Laser phase and intensity noise directly influence the sensitivity and accuracy of these instruments.
Most laboratory setups use ECDL or DFB diode lasers because they provide adequate linewidth and tunability for basic magnetometry or interferometry. High-end experiments may employ Ti:Sapphire or fiber-stabilised lasers when very low phase noise is required. However, diode systems are sensitive to temperature and mechanical vibrations, and Ti:Sapphire systems are difficult to operate outside a controlled environment.
A single frequency DPSS laser offers low intensity noise and stable frequency performance in a compact and mechanically robust design. While not as spectrally pure as the best Ti:Sapphire systems, it provides a practical balance between noise performance, power stability, and environmental tolerance for portable magnetometers and inertial sensors.
Neutral-atom quantum computing
Neutral-atom quantum computing platforms rely on 780 nm light for laser cooling, trapping, and addressing rubidium atoms. The quality and stability of this light influence atom loading, coherence times, and gate fidelity. Most research systems use ECDL or tapered-amplified diode lasers, which are cost-effective and tunable. These systems can deliver sufficient power for multi-beam cooling but often require active stabilization to prevent frequency drift or mode hops. Ti:Sapphire lasers offer very low noise and excellent beam quality but are expensive and require frequent alignment. The Skylark 780 NX DPSS laser provides stable, single mode output - combining beam quality and low amplitude noise - without the maintenance demands of Ti:Sapphire systems or the drift sensitivity of ECDLs. This makes it a useful choice for experimental setups where consistent long-term operation and simplified integration are valued more than extreme tunability.
Quantum communication and frequency conversion
Quantum communication systems frequently employ rubidium-based quantum memories at 780 nm coupled to telecom wavelengths through nonlinear frequency conversion. Laser frequency stability and phase coherence are critical for maintaining photon indistinguishability and entanglement fidelity.
ECDL and Ti:Sapphire lasers are common choices in laboratories because they can be tuned precisely to atomic transitions. However, ECDLs can introduce additional phase noise or require frequent realignment to maintain optimal performance, and Ti:Sapphire systems are rarely suitable for continuous operation over long periods due to their complexity.
A single frequency DPSS laser offers a stable and low-noise optical carrier that can improve conversion efficiency and simplify system maintenance. While it may not reach the absolute coherence of the best Ti:Sapphire lasers, its compactness, passive stability, and continuous single-mode operation make it well suited to long-term or autonomous quantum network demonstrations.
Long term, alignment-free stability for commercial-grade quantum systems
The Skylark 780 NX delivers sub-Hz intrinsic linewidth and ultra-low noise performance in a compact, alignment-free DPSS platform tuned to the rubidium D₂ transition at 780 nm. It combines the spectral purity of a Ti:Sapphire laser with the reliability and simplicity of a diode system — providing long-term frequency stability, mechanical robustness, and clean TEM₀₀ beam quality from a sealed, air-cooled package. Engineered for atomic clocks, quantum gravimeters, magnetometers, and neutral-atom processors, the 780 NX enables laboratory-grade precision in deployable quantum instruments.
Narrow linewidth
The Skylark 780 NX achieves a sub-Hz intrinsic linewidth, limited only by quantum noise within the resonator. In practical use, the passive linewidth remains below 13 kHz (1 ms), and the measured linewidth stays below 300 kHz (100 ms), demonstrating exceptional frequency stability over both short and extended timescales. This performance enables long-coherence atomic interrogation and robust laser locking in both laboratory and deployable quantum systems.
Wavelength stability
The 780 NX maintains wavelength stability better than ± 0.2 pm over eight hours of continuous operation without active environmental control. This spectral stability minimises frequency drift from the rubidium D₂ transition, improving lock robustness and reducing calibration error in atomic clocks, quantum gravimeters, and magnetometers designed for extended or autonomous operation.
Mechanical and thermal robustness
The Skylark NX monolithic DPSS cavity architecture is inherently resistant to vibration, temperature drift, and acoustic noise. This rigidity prevents mode hops and suppresses slow frequency drift, ensuring reliable locks to the rubidium D₂ transition under varying field conditions. The result is stable operation for deployable quantum sensors and optical clock systems, mitigating the need for constant realignment or environmental isolation.
"The laser is very stable, we never lose the Rubidium frequency."
FAQS
DPSS lasers vs ECDL vs Ti:Sapphire lasers for Rb quantum applications
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