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StatusOngoing
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Activity Code5F.034
The main objective of the project is to develop a magneto-optical trap (MOT) to produce a cold atomic gas, which can serve as a platform for a quantum memory. We aim for a significant miniaturisation of the system and its components using microfabrication technology to reduce the size, weight and power consumption of the trap.
The system is realised in an elegant breadboard design with a microfabricated science chamber for the MOT, and a small and low-weight light conditioning system for the required cooling laser. Besides the compact form factor, the engineering is considering space compatibility requirements and first tests about the system’s space compatibility are conducted.
Since a future development of the system is destined to operate as a quantum repeater in space, there are two main challenges in the development of the current system. On the one hand, the size, weight and power consumption of the magneto-optical trap has to be reduced significantly. On the other hand, to work as a quantum repeater, the memory must have sufficient storage time. Therefore, the trapped atoms must maintain their coherence state for as long as possible. This is achieved by laser cooling of the atoms down to the low µK regime.
The project offers a miniaturised system for a cold atomic gas as a preliminary stage for a quantum memory for space application. The cold atomic gas has sufficient lifetime and density to fulfil the requirement for a quantum memory which enables a satellite-based communication link to facilitate entanglement distribution. The system has a low size, weight and power consumption and considers basic design rules for space compatibility. The development of the miniaturised science chamber for cold atomic gases will enable multiple other applications in the sensing domain where atomic ensembles play a key role.
To create the cold atomic gas, a magneto-optical trap is used. The implementation of a grating chip will reduce the number of required beams for the laser cooling of the atoms. The product will contain the following subsystems:
- Cooling laser system
- Miniaturised rubidium source
- Grating chip
- Miniaturised vacuum cell with passive getter pump
- Magnetic system.
Finally, the system is subjected to thermo-vacuum tests.
The cooling laser system is built up by the Space Optics Laboratory at FORTH-IESL. The thermo-vacuum tests are conducted by TESAT. TESAT also promote the space compatibility of the system. All other components are developed by DLR (German Aerospace Center).
The system mainly consists of an elegant breadboard which contains the light conditioning system and the magneto-optical trap. For system operation, further periphery components are needed: the laser system; supplies which provide the power for the rubidium source, the magnetic system and the laser; an imaging system for monitoring the atomic cloud and a control system.
The project is divided in six phases. The first phase is a Feasibility Study to confirm that the system can be enhanced to a quantum memory. Then the design is finished (Milestone 1). Afterwards the trap components are fabricated and assembled (Milestone 2). In the next phase, the light conditioning system and the trap are assembled on an elegant breadboard (Milestone 3). Finally, the system is tested and verified (Milestone 4: Test Review; Milestone 5: Final Review).
The Feasibility Study is finished. Currently, we are finalising the system design. Next step is the provisioning and building of the components for the magneto-optical trap.
