Laser Sources for AMO and
Quantum-Enabling Systems
Atomic, molecular, and optical physics (AMO) centers on controlled interactions between light and matter at the scale of atoms, ions, and molecules. For a laser source, the question quickly becomes specific: which species, which transition, and what the light must do in the system.
It takes the right light to make that interaction useful. At the source level, that means matching the light to the target species, stabilizing the wavelength, and packaging the source for the surrounding system.
That is where Volume Bragg Grating (VBG) locking helps. The VBG provides a wavelength-selective anchor, allowing IPS to target the light your transition requires and build a compact, stable source matched to the surrounding optical system.
Transition-Matched Light for AMO Systems
The table below provides a wavelength-level view of hybrid external cavity laser (HECL) source capabilities for AMO and quantum-enabling systems. If your target is not listed, our team can work with you on a compact, stabilized source matched to your species, transition, and system requirements.
The table is intended as a starting map: each row connects a target species or transition to an HECL source wavelength and a likely source role within the broader AMO architecture.
Atomic / Ionic Species | Laser Function / Role | Target λ, vac nm | HECL λ, vac nm | Access Method |
Lithium (Li) | D-line region / cooling support | 670.979 | 670.979 | Direct |
Strontium (Sr) | Repump support | 679.290 | 679.290 | Direct |
Strontium (Sr) | Narrow-line cooling / Red MOT | 689.449 | 689.449 | Direct |
Strontium (Sr) | Clock-transition target access / source support | 698.446 | 698.446 | Direct |
Strontium (Sr) | Repump support | 707.202 | 707.202 | Direct |
Calcium ion (Ca⁺) | Clock / qubit-transition source support | 729.347 | 729.347 | Direct |
Rubidium (Rb) | Two-photon optical reference | 778.120 | 778.120 | Direct |
Rubidium (Rb) | D2 cooling / spectroscopy | 780.241 | 780.241 | Direct |
Rubidium (Rb) | D1 optical pumping / spectroscopy | 794.979 | 794.979 | Direct |
Strontium (Sr) | Optical lattice / magic wavelength | 813.427 | 813.427 | Direct |
Cesium-133 (¹³³Cs) | D2 cooling / spectroscopy | 852.347 | 852.347 | Direct |
Calcium ion (Ca⁺) | D5/2 repump / deshelving | 854.444 | 854.444 | Direct |
Calcium ion (Ca⁺) | D3/2 repump | 866.452 | 866.452 | Direct |
Strontium (Sr) | Blue cooling | 460.861 | 921.722 | SHG |
Ytterbium ion (Yb⁺) | Repump support | 935.188 | 935.188 | Direct |
Barium (Ba I) | Metastable-state repump / state control | 1130.613 | 1130.613 | Direct |
Ytterbium (Yb) | Clock-transition target access / source support | 578.420 | 1156.840 | SHG |
Barium ion (Ba⁺) | Deshelving / reset / repump | 614.3415 | 1228.683 | SHG |
Barium (Ba I) | Metastable-state repump / state recovery | 1500.395 | 1500.395 | Direct |
Rubidium (Rb) | Two-photon optical reference | 778.120 | 1556.240 | SHG |
Rubidium (Rb) | D2 cooling / spectroscopy | 780.241 | 1560.482 | SHG |
Table note: Target λ identifies the application wavelength. HECL λ identifies the IPS laser-source wavelength. For SHG rows, the HECL source operates at the fundamental wavelength and the target wavelength is reached through downstream second-harmonic generation.
Laser Source Roles in AMO Systems
Once a wavelength is identified, the source role comes into focus. In AMO systems, a laser is not defined by wavelength alone; it also supports a specific interaction, control, reference, measurement, or system-support role. The paths below connect IPS-developed wavelengths to common source roles and source-level applications in AMO and quantum-enabling systems.
Laser Cooling and Trapping
Laser sources for cooling transitions, magneto-optical traps, optical molasses, and cold-atom preparation workflows where stable, wavelength-specific light is used to slow, collect, and control atoms.
Optical Pumping and Repump Lasers
Sources for state preparation and population control, including optical pumping, repump, deshelving, detection-cycle support, and return pathways that keep atoms or ions in the required operating states.
Atomic and Optical Clock Laser Sources
Source-level support for clock-related systems, including cooling, repump, spectroscopy, lattice, and clock-transition wavelengths used to prepare, control, and interrogate the atomic reference.
Optical Lattice and Magic-Wavelength Laser Sources
Sources for lattice and magic-wavelength roles where the laser supports confinement, state-dependent control, or clock-system operation while helping manage shifts of the measured transition.
Trapped-Ion Laser Sources for Quantum Systems
Wavelength-stabilized sources for ion-based systems where the laser may support qubit or clock transitions, repump, deshelving, reset, detection, or state-control functions.
Atom Interferometry and Cold-Atom Quantum Sensing
Compact, wavelength-stabilized sources for cold-atom platforms used in interferometry, inertial sensing, field sensing, and precision measurement.
