Abstract: Embodiments herein describe various arrangements of an optical bench used to perform spectroscopy. For example, a spectroscopy system may include a pump optical signal and a probe optical signal that are transmitted through a vapor cell on the optical bench. The optical bench can further include one or more optical components (e.g., beam splitter and a thin film polarizer) for redirecting a portion of the probe and pump optical signals to photodiodes. In one embodiment, the measurements obtained from the photodiodes can be used to perform multiple tasks. For example, the measurements can be used to adjust the power of the optical signals in the optical bench (e.g., make DC power adjustments), perform amplitude modulation correction, and lock a laser frequency to a peak of an absorption spectrum of the vapor in the vapor cell.

Abstract: Embodiments herein describe using compressed source material to perform an atomic experiment or an atomic application within a vacuum chamber (e.g., an atom cooling and trapping apparatus). Source material is often refined and sold with dendritic or crystalline surfaces that result in a very large surface area. This surface area increases the likelihood that a large amount contaminants will form on the surface, which is especially true for reactive source materials. To mitigate the risk of contamination, in the embodiments herein the source material is compressed onto a substrate. This changes the material from having a dendritic or crystalline surface to a flat surface, which has a much smaller surface area and thus is less susceptible to contaminants which can, for example, improve the lifetime usage of the source material.

Abstract: Embodiments herein describe techniques for designing a magnetic coil. The coil can include a coil mount where current-carrying wires are wrapped around the mount, or a current-carrying bar where the electric current flows through the part itself. Embodiments herein also describe non-planar magnetic coils for magneto-optical trap (MOTs).

Abstract: Embodiments herein describe various arrangements of an optical bench used to perform spectroscopy. For example, a spectroscopy system may include a pump optical signal and a probe optical signal that are transmitted through a vapor cell on the optical bench. The optical bench can further include one or more optical components (e.g., beam splitter and a thin film polarizer) for redirecting a portion of the probe and pump optical signals to photodiodes. In one embodiment, the measurements obtained from the photodiodes can be used to perform multiple tasks. For example, the measurements can be used to adjust the power of the optical signals in the optical bench (e.g., make DC power adjustments), perform amplitude modulation correction, and lock a laser frequency to a peak of an absorption spectrum of the vapor in the vapor cell.