Low noise amplication of an optically carried microwave signal: application to atom interferometry

Thomas Lévèque (1) , Alexandre Gauguet (1) , Walid Chaibi (2) , Arnaud Landragin (1)

1 SYRTE - Systèmes de Référence Temps Espace
2 ARTEMIS - Astrophysique Relativiste Théories Expériences Métrologie Instrumentation Signaux

In this paper, we report a new scheme to amplify a microwave signal carried on a laser light at $\lambda$=852nm. The amplification is done via a semiconductor tapered amplifier and this scheme is used to drive stimulated Raman transitions in an atom interferometer. Sideband generation in the amplifier, due to self-phase and amplitude modulation, is investigated and characterized. We also demonstrate that the amplifier does not induce any significant phase-noise on the beating signal. Finally, the degradation of the performances of the interferometer due to the amplification process is shown to be negligible.

Mots clés: laser; phase noise; sideband; semiconductor amplifier; stimulated Raman transition; atom interferometry

Domaines: Physique Atomique [physics.atom-ph]; Optique [physics.optics]

Thomas Lévèque, Alexandre Gauguet, Walid Chaibi, Arnaud Landragin. Low noise amplication of an optically carried microwave signal: application to atom interferometry. 2010. ⟨hal-00460189⟩