Supply and Installation of Frequency Comb and Laser Suite for University of Birmingham

About

The University of Birmingham awarded a contract to TOPTICA Photonics AG for the supply and installation of a full octave spanning frequency comb and a suite of lasers for laser-cooling of ytterbium atoms.

The frequency comb is a fibre-based, plug-and-play, turnkey system enabling continuous 24/7 operation, with absolute frequency stability equal or better than 1e-16 in 1s and 3e-18 in 1,000s, and can be stabilised to inputs of 698 nm, 578 nm, 775 nm, and 1040 nm.

The system includes driving and RF locking electronics, a control computer, user software with remote access, and user training at the installation site.

The laser sub-systems include a 399 nm tunable laser with output in excess of 300 mW or two tunable lasers each with output in excess of 100 mW, a 556 nm tunable laser with output in excess of 200 mW or two tunable lasers each with output in excess of 60 mW, and a 1388 nm tunable laser with output of 20 mW or more, each with associated locking electronics.

Optional items include a high-finesse wavemeter, a 578 nm tunable laser with output of 20 mW or more, a 759 nm tunable laser with output of 2,000 mW or more, and a 649 nm tunable laser.

The contract value is £399,990.