Laser-written vapor cells for chip-scale atomic sensing and spectroscopy

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel laser-written vapor cell fabrication method that creates customizable 3D atomic cells suitable for integrated quantum sensors and spectroscopy, eliminating the need for vacuum apparatus.

Contribution

The authors develop a femtosecond laser machining technique for creating alkali-metal vapor cells with arbitrary shapes and integrated buffer gas management, advancing miniaturized atomic sensing technology.

Findings

Successful fabrication of 3D vapor cells with femtosecond laser writing.

Demonstration of sub-Doppler spectroscopy and optical magnetometry.

Potential for integration with photonic structures in compact sensors.

Abstract

We report the fabrication of alkali-metal vapor cells using femtosecond laser machining. This laser-written vapor-cell (LWVC) technology allows arbitrarily-shaped 3D interior volumes and has potential for integration with photonic structures and optical components. We use non-evaporable getters both to dispense rubidium and to absorb buffer gas. This enables us to produce cells with sub-atmospheric buffer gas pressures without vacuum apparatus. We demonstrate sub-Doppler saturated absorption spectroscopy and single beam optical magnetometry with a single LWVC. The LWVC technology may find application in miniaturized atomic quantum sensors and frequency references.