Building a Michelson Interferometer for a Saturated Absorption Spectroscopy Apparatus
Document Type
Poster
Campus where you would like to present
Ellensburg
Event Website
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source
Start Date
18-5-2020
Abstract
Saturated absorption spectroscopy is a method of observing atomic state transitions that are normally obscured by Doppler broadening of the atomic spectral absorption lines. The goal of the experiment was to build a Michelson interferometer for the laser in a rubidium saturated absorption spectroscopy apparatus for improving the resolution of measurements of atomic transition frequency separations. Progress on aligning the interferometer was held back by an interference pattern of unknown origin in the saturated absorption signal. The likely cause of the interference was determined to be the probe beam of the laser interfering with the pump beam of the laser at the detector due to reflections inside the rubidium cell. Plans were developed to realign the pump beam of the laser. Preliminary results obtained before the project was unavoidably interrupted and plans for future work will be presented.
Recommended Citation
Schuldheiss, Wyatt, "Building a Michelson Interferometer for a Saturated Absorption Spectroscopy Apparatus" (2020). Symposium Of University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 95.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2020/COTS/95
Department/Program
Physics
Building a Michelson Interferometer for a Saturated Absorption Spectroscopy Apparatus
Ellensburg
Saturated absorption spectroscopy is a method of observing atomic state transitions that are normally obscured by Doppler broadening of the atomic spectral absorption lines. The goal of the experiment was to build a Michelson interferometer for the laser in a rubidium saturated absorption spectroscopy apparatus for improving the resolution of measurements of atomic transition frequency separations. Progress on aligning the interferometer was held back by an interference pattern of unknown origin in the saturated absorption signal. The likely cause of the interference was determined to be the probe beam of the laser interfering with the pump beam of the laser at the detector due to reflections inside the rubidium cell. Plans were developed to realign the pump beam of the laser. Preliminary results obtained before the project was unavoidably interrupted and plans for future work will be presented.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2020/COTS/95
Faculty Mentor(s)
Michael Braunstein