1-watt single-frequency 689 nm VECSEL for quantum technologies

Tools

Hodges, Charlotte A. and Moriya, Paulo Hisao and Hastie, Jennifer E. (2025) 1-watt single-frequency 689 nm VECSEL for quantum technologies. Optics Express, 33 (26). pp. 55185-55195. ISSN 1094-4087 (https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.583172)

[thumbnail of Hodges-etal-2025-OE-1-watt-single-frequency-689-nm-VECSEL-for-quantum-technologies]
Preview
 Text. Filename: Hodges-etal-2025-OE-1-watt-single-frequency-689-nm-VECSEL-for-quantum-technologies.pdf
Final Published Version
License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 logo
Download (2MB)| Preview

Abstract

Single-frequency AlGaInP-based VECSELs are high brightness, low-noise lasers with capacity for compact power scaling, making them excellent candidates for quantum technology applications based on cold strontium (Sr) atoms, which require high-power low-noise light at 689 nm. We demonstrate lateral power-scaling of an AlGaInP-VECSEL, producing multimode output power of 2 W around 689 nm and 1 W single-frequency at the Sr 1S0 → 3P1 cooling transition frequency (434.82 THz) using intracavity filtering. Relative to previous reports, this system offers an increase in multimode output power of >350 %. The thermal resistance of the system is estimated as 4.3(1) K/W, consistent with other AlGaInP-VECSEL reports. Single-frequency output power and wavelength stability are observed as 4.3 % and 445 fm (280 MHz) rms over a 1-hour period, respectively. The single-frequency VECSEL was also locked to a Fabry-Perot reference cavity, demonstrating ultra-low relative intensity noise (RIN) of <-152.9 dBc/Hz for frequencies above 1 kHz. Further frequency noise measurements resulted in estimated free-running and locked linewidths of 71(1) kHz (0.02 s) and 7.26(1) kHz (20 s), respectively, demonstrating suitability for high-power quantum applications based on cold Sr.

ORCID iDs

Hodges, Charlotte A., Moriya, Paulo Hisao ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6761-191X and Hastie, Jennifer E. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4066-7411;
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)