NIST has developed a tiny spectrometer about the size of a green pea that could revolutionize laser calibration and optical telecommunications. The device, described in Optics Express, consists of miniature optics, a microfabricated atomic container, heaters, and a photodetector all within a 10mm cube. It could replace bulky table-top instruments used in atomic physics research and improve fiber-optic channel stability.
The key innovation is a tiny glass-and-silicon atomic container that can be mass-produced from silicon wafers. While shrinking size creates challenges, NIST has overcome them with special features like atomic heaters. The device works by measuring laser beam absorption at specific wavelengths, producing a characteristic signature. It has been demonstrated with rubidium and cesium atoms, and could be adapted for other atoms or molecules.
The mini-spectrometer offers greater precision than current physical references for fiber-optic channels, potentially enabling more channels in the same spectrum. This could have significant implications for telecommunications and other applications requiring precise laser calibration.
Source: https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2007/05/tiny-spectrometer-offers-precision-laser-calibration
Keywords: Spectrometer, Laser, Atoms, Precision, Metrology
