Optical pumping cesium resonator and laser diode detection

Abstract

A laser diode detection and optical pumping cesium resonator in which the frequency of the laser diode is made dependent on a signal delivered by a detector picking up the fluorescence light emanating from an interaction zone created just at the output of the cesium oven by the interaction of the cesium atom jet and a part of the light beam emitted by said detection diode. In particular, a laser diode detection and optical pumping cesium resonator having a cesium oven emitting a flow of cesium atoms, a resonating cavity in the flow path, a laser diode optical pump delivering a light beam into the atom flow between the cavity and the oven at a first interaction zone and a cesium resonance frequency generator. A detector for detecting fluorencence from a second interaction zone at the cavity output resulting from the interaction of the atom stream with a third laser. The detector delivering a signal representative of the second interaction to frequency control means to control the frequency of the generator. Part of the third laser light is directed at the flow emanating from the oven to create a third interaction zone wherein a second detector picks up fluorescence emanating from the third interaction zone and delivering a signal representative of this third interaction zone to means for controlling the frequency of the third laser.