McNair Scholars Research Journal
Abstract
The long-term goal of this research effort is to use glass cells containing rubidium (Rb) as electric-field sensors via controlled laser probes. Two important steps to develop the experiment include the renovation of a Vibration Control System (VCS) and the completion of a laser frequency locking circuit for the existing External Cavity Diode Laser (ECDL) to provide active frequency stabilization.
Construction of the circuit will continue after the VCS is set up. This circuit will enable the ECDL to provide narrow-band excitation of rubidium atoms from the 5S to the 5P state [1]. Once the locking circuit is implemented and the VCS in place, an existing ECDL setup will be used to probe the quantized atomic states of Rb vapor within a glass cell [2].