Abstract
We present a comparison between lens cavity filters and atomic line filters, discussing their relative merits for applications in quantum optics. We describe the design, characterization, and stabilization procedure of a lens cavity filter, which consists of a high-reflection coated commercially available plano-convex lens, and compare it to an ultra-narrow atomic band-pass filter utilizing the D2 absorption line in atomic rubidium vapor. We find that the cavity filter peak transmission frequency and bandwidth can be chosen arbitrarily but the transmission frequency is subject to thermal drift and the cavity needs stabilization to better than a few mK, while the atomic filter is intrinsically stable and tied to an atomic resonance frequency such that it can be used in a non-laboratory environment.
Highlights
Optical filters are used in a variety of applications for isolating a signal frequency from unwanted background noise
It is advantageous to use an accurate model of the filter spectrum to find optimum operating parameters; we used a computational model, ElecSus [25,26]
Atomic filters can be broadly classified as two types—line center and wing—depending on where the transmission is relative to the atomic resonance
Summary
Optical filters are used in a variety of applications for isolating a signal frequency from unwanted background noise. Examples of narrow-band filters include atomic line filters and cavity filters; these shall be the focus of this discussion. Atomic line filters are often used in atmospheric LIDAR [10,11,12], optical communications [13], and laser frequency stabilization [14,15]. These filters consist of an atomic vapor cell placed between two crossed polarizers and subject to a magnetic field which causes the polarization of light to be rotated as it traverses the cell [16], leading to transmission through the second polarizer. Each has advantages and disadvantages—in this article we present a study comparing the two
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