Compact Spectroscopy Apparatus

using additive manufacturing

In brief

A miniaturised device for performing saturated absorption spectroscopy on two lasers simultaneously. It can also produce a beat signal between one of these two lasers and a third. It provides all the spectroscopic signals required to stabilise the lasers typically used for making and studying a magneto-optical trap for Alkali atoms such as Rb, Cs and K.

Key benefits:

Considerable reductions in size, weight and cost over existing technologies

Improved stability against environmental disturbances

Turn-key device, no alignment by the operator required

This device is far smaller, cheaper and more stable than existing equivalents. The improvements are achieved by:

• the efficient use of optical components, comprising of a minimum number of elements in the device,
• the replacement of traditional optomechanical mounting devices with a single additively-manufactured holding structure securing all of the components,
• the minimised optical path lengths. This  increases the ability to tolerate misalignment and reduces the importance of small beam misalignments arising from unwanted environmental disturbances (e.g. temperature changes and vibrations).

Specifications

Intellectual Property:

• Patent published (GB2590352)
• Technical drawings
• .stl file

Enquiries:

Sarah Newman - Commercialisation Officer

sarah.newman@nottingham.ac.uk

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Further information