Chiarotti, Mauro (2024) Towards a large-momentum-transfer clock atom interferometer with cadmium. [Tesi di dottorato]

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Abstract

This thesis presents the work towards the development of a novel clock atom interferometer employing ultra-cold cadmium at the Department of Physics and Astronomy of the University of Florence. Cooling, trapping, and interferometry experiments, with particular emphasis on the future development of a large-momentum-transfer gravimeter/gradiometer on the doubly forbidden clock transition of cadmium, are targeted, implying the need for novel laser systems in the Deep Ultra Violet (DUV) - Ultra Violet (UV) spectrum, where the main electronic transitions of cadmium lie, at 229 nm, 326 nm and finally 332 nm, respectively. Specifically, details are presented on the development and characterization of these next-generation laser systems, which are based on frequency quadrupled, high-power infrared master sources and whose performance are related to the feasibility of the mentioned physics goals. A study is presented, highlighting the importance of the power levels and stability of the sources and, in particular, the clock 332 nm laser. The experimental apparatus includes the design and the development of a suitable vacuum apparatus for producing a sample of cold cadmium atoms; the design of the scientific chamber follows the demonstrated results on the UV laser sources. The apparatus is also equipped with a system for the production of a cadmium atomic beam, and the experimental results firstly include the realization of precision spectroscopy experiments on the beam, involving the 229 nm and 326 nm transitions of cadmium. The experimental results also contain a presentation of a study of the hyperfine electronic structure in the visible spectrum at 652 nm of molecular iodine, which coincides interestingly with the second harmonic of the master laser at 1304 nm. Among all the results obtained during my PhD program, the demonstration and characterization of the first 2D cadmium MOT represents an important step forward for future investigation of cadmium atoms and their application to atom interferometry and for fundamental physics tests.

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