A frequency-stabilized LNA laser at $1.083~\mu$m : application to the manipulation of helium 4 atoms

N. Vansteenkiste , C. Gerz , R. Kaiser , L. Hollberg , C. Salomon , Alain Aspect (1)

1 laboratoire Charles Fabry de l'Institut d'Optique / Optique atomique

We describe a single mode LNA ring laser, which emits 60 mW at $1.083~\mu$m. Thanks to a high frequency F.M. saturated absorption technique, this laser is directly locked to an atomic line in a 4He discharge cell. The residual frequency jitter is 130 kHz. We then present two examples of laser manipulation of helium 4 atoms in the 2 3S1 metastable state, using this laser : a density increase of the atomic beam by a factor of 8, with one-dimensional optical molasses, and a selective deflection of the metastable helium beam using a laser beam with curved wavefronts.

Domaines: Articles anciens

N. Vansteenkiste, C. Gerz, R. Kaiser, L. Hollberg, C. Salomon, et al.. A frequency-stabilized LNA laser at $1.083~\mu$m : application to the manipulation of helium 4 atoms. Journal de Physique II, 1991, 1 (12), pp.1407-1428. ⟨10.1051/jp2:1991159⟩. ⟨jpa-00247600⟩