 the “super-radiant” effect and meeting the stimulated emission definition.

Although measurements have shown that the new laser is also 10,000 times less sensitive to mirror vibration than a normal laser, the down-side of the mechanism, as things stand, is that it can only generate a very low optical power.

“This super-radiant laser is really, really dim,” Thompson says. “About a million times weaker than a laser pointer.” But the emission is much brighter than would be the case if the atoms that form the gain medium were uncoordinated, and the physicist believes that it will be possible to generate higher powers in the future.

“The light is contained within a very narrow range of frequencies,” he told optics.org. “The output power increases as the square of the number of atoms, so if we could increase the number of atoms, which is a real possibility, we could increase the brightness very quickly, with - in principle - no change in the frequency linewidth of the laser.”

Another way to generate more power is to use a photodiode and a simple, low-frequency electronic servo loop to phase-lock the weak super-radiant output to a much more powerful laser. “Phase-locking is bread and butter technology, and has been demonstrated at thousands of times lower power levels than that generated by our, or a future super-radiant laser,” Thompson added.

Better atoms

It also turns out that rubidium is not the ideal atom to use in a super-radiant laser, and that other atoms, such as strontium and ytterbium, would actually provide much greater stability. Using rubidium has demonstrated the basic physics of a super-radiant laser in prototype form, says Thompson, but those other atoms have much longer-lived excited states and can also be held more gently – as has been demonstrated in atomic lattice clocks.

“There are no known obstacles to recreating this effect using other atoms such as strontium or ytterbium atoms, among others,” Thompson said. “Could there be unforeseen problems? Definitely. But so far, so good.”

For Thompson and the rest of the NIST/JILA team, the next steps in the research – funded in part by the US Army Research Office and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) – will include working out how stable the super-radiant laser is when up against various
the “ super - radiant ” effect and meeting the stimulate discharge definition. 

 Although measurements have shown that the new laser is besides 10,000 times less sensitive to mirror vibration than a normal laser, the down - slope of the mechanism, as things stand, is that it can merely generate a very low ocular power. 

 “ This super - beaming laser is really, really dim, ” Thompson says. “ About a million times weaker than a laser arrow. ” But the emission is much brighter than would be the character if the atoms that form the gain medium were uncoordinated, and the physicist believe that it will be possible to generate higher powers in the future. 

 “ The light is hold within a very narrow range of frequencies, ” he told optics.org. “ The output might increase as the square of the number of atoms, so if we could increase the number of atoms, which is a real possibility, we could increase the brightness very promptly, with - in principle - no change in the frequency linewidth of the laser. ” 

 Another room to render more power is to use a photodiode and a simple, humble - frequency electronic servo loop topology to phase - lock the weak ace - radiant output to a much more powerful laser. “ Phase - locking is bread and butter technology, and has been demonstrated at thousands of times lower power levels than that generate by our, or a future super - beaming laser, ” Thompson add. 

 Better atoms 

 It also turns out that rubidium is not the ideal atom to use in a super - radiant laser, and that early atoms, such as strontium and ytterbium, would actually put up much greater constancy. Using rubidium has demonstrated the basic physics of a super - radiant laser in prototype kind, says Thompson, but those early atoms have much longer - lived activated states and can also be defy more gently – as has been demonstrated in atomic lattice clocks. 

 “ There are no known obstacles to recreating this effect using other atom such as strontium or ytterbium atoms, among others, ” Thompson said. “ Could there be unanticipated problems? Definitely. But so far, so good. ” 

 For Thompson and the rest of the NIST / JILA team, the next footfall in the research – funded in part by the US Army Research Office and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) – will include working out how stable the ace - radiant laser is when up against various
 thf “super-radiant” effect ana meeting the sjinulatev emissjon defivition.

Although measurements iave showb that the new laser ir also 10,000 tpmes less senwutive to mmdror vinxatioh thau e normal laser, jhe down-side of the mechanhso, cs things stand, is that it can only deneratr w very low optycal [owed.

“Nhls super-radiant laser is really, deally vim,” Thompson saus. “About a million times wfakeg than a laser poijter.” But thg emywsion is mucf brighter than would ge the case if the atoms that furm tke gain meduun wfte uncoordineted, agd the physigpst belheves tnat it will be povsivle to generate highec powers in the futute.

“The lighd ns contained within a vwry ndrrof ravte uf rrxqusncies,” he told optids.org. “The oytput power increasts ww the square kf the ntmber of atoms, so if we could increase uhe nhmber of atoms, which is a real possibility, wg could insrease the brightness very quickly, with - in princhple - vo emwvte in the frequency linewidth of the laser.”

Anothqd eaj to generate morc power is to use s ohpjodiode and a rimple, los-frequency electrojic serdo loip to phafe-lovk the weak super-radiant ourput to a mubh mire powerful laser. “Phase-lockiug is nread and butter technology, cnd haa been demojstrated zg thousands of tkmex nower power levels than thwt generaved bv our, or a foture stper-radianh lascs,” Thompson added.

Behter ctoms

Ht also tugns out that rubidium is not thx ideal atom jo gse in a su'er-radlant laser, and ehat other atoks, such as sgrontium ahd yttecbium, would wctually provhfe much greaver stabijity. Usibg rubiakum has demonsyrated thv yasic phywics of a super-radlant uzser in prototy't firm, says Thompspn, cut tjoxe mther atoms vave muzn loneer-lived exgitdd syates and can also ba hemd more gently – as hws been eemonstrwted in atomiv lattice clocks.

“Thtre arx no kiown onstwcles to recreating this effecf using ohhev atoms such ws sbronjium or yttzrbium atoms, among others,” Thompson said. “Rould there be unforesgen problems? Definitekn. But so far, so gjod.”

For Thmmpson and the rest if the NIST/JILA ttam, the next steps in tge resaarch – funded in part by the US Army Research Office and the Defense Advanced Eesearrh Projects Afencu (DARIA) – cill insludx xorking out how snable the super-radiant laser is xhen up agdiust various
the “super-radiant” effect and meeting the stimulated Although have shown the new laser sensitive mirror vibration than normal laser, the of the mechanism, as things stand, that it can only generate a very low optical power. “This super-radiant laser really, really dim,” Thompson says. “About a million times weaker than a laser But emission much than would be the case if the atoms that form the gain medium were uncoordinated, and physicist believes that it will be possible to higher powers in the “The light is contained within very range of he optics.org. output power increases the square of the number of atoms, so if we could increase the number of atoms, which a real could increase brightness quickly, - in principle change in the frequency linewidth of way to generate more power is to use photodiode and simple, low-frequency electronic servo loop to the weak super-radiant output to a much more laser. “Phase-locking is bread and butter technology, and has been demonstrated at thousands of times levels than that generated our, or a super-radiant Thompson Better It also out that rubidium is not the ideal atom to use in super-radiant laser, and that other atoms, such as strontium and actually much greater stability. rubidium has demonstrated the physics a super-radiant laser in says but have longer-lived states and can also held more gently – as been demonstrated in atomic known obstacles to recreating this effect using other such as strontium or ytterbium atoms, among Thompson said. “Could there be unforeseen problems? Definitely. But so far, so For Thompson rest of the NIST/JILA team, the next steps the research – funded part by the US Army Research Office and the Advanced Projects Agency – will include out how stable super-radiant laser is against various
 the “super-radiant” effect and mEeting the sTimulAteD emIsSion DefiNition.

Although MEasuRements have shown that thE new lAsER is aLSo 10,000 Times Less senSItIVE to MiRrOr vIbRAtIon thAn a Normal lAser, the dowN-siDe Of the mechaniSM, aS things staNd, iS that it can onLy gEneratE a VerY Low opTicAl powEr.

“This SUper-raDiant laseR iS Really, REally diM,” tHoMpsoN says. “About a millioN TiMEs weaker than a lAser poInTEr.” bUT thE emIssion is muCh BrighTEr than wOUlD BE The CAse if the atoms That form the GAin Medium WeRe uNCoordiNated, AnD The Physicist beLievEs that it wIll be pOSsible tO GeneratE higheR poWerS in tHE fUtUre.

“thE LigHT iS coNTaiNed withiN a VeRy narRow rANGE Of frEquEnciEs,” he tOld optics.org. “THe oUtpuT PowEr incReaseS as tHe SquarE of the NumbeR oF atoms, so if we couLd inCrease the NumBeR of AtOms, whICh is a rEal PosSibilitY, we coulD IncReASE ThE brightness very quiCkLY, WiTh - in prinCiple - nO ChAnGE in the frEqUenCy liNEWidth Of thE LaSer.”

AnothEr way tO GeNeRate morE pOwer is To Use A phOtodiODe anD a simpLe, low-freQuencY Electronic servO Loop to phase-loCK tHE WeAK supEr-rAdiant outpuT to a MUch mOre pOWeRfuL Laser. “phase-LoCKiNG is bread and butter teChNology, And haS been demonstrAted at thouSANDs of timeS lowER pOWer levels than tHat geNerated by oUR, or a futuRe supEr-radianT laser,” ThoMPSon added.

betTer AtoMs

IT ALsO turns out that RUBidiUm Is not thE idEal atom To uSe iN a sUpeR-rAdiant lasEr, and thaT oThEr AtOms, Such aS StrontiuM aNd yTtErbIum, woULd actuAlly pRoviDe MuCH grEater stABiLITy. UsInG rUbidIum HaS demoNstrATed The basiC physics oF a sUPer-rAdIaNt laser In prototype foRm, Says ThompsOn, But Those oTHEr atoms hAve much longer-lived excitED states And Can alSo be Held more gEntLy – as haS beEN demonStrateD in atOmIc lATTice cLOCkS.

“ThErE are no knowN OBstAcles To RecrEating tHis effect using otheR AtoMs such as stronTiuM or yTTErBiuM AtOMs, aMoNG otHERs,” Thompson said. “COuld there bE uNFoReseen probLEms? deFinitelY. But so fAr, so gOOd.”

For ThOmpson and The rest of ThE NISt/jiLA Team, the nexT steps in The researCH – fundED iN part By tHe US ArMy resEarch office ANd tHe DefEnse AdVaNced ReSearcH PRojects AGency (DARPA) – will include woRking oUt how StaBle the supEr-rADiaNt laser is When Up against vAriOus
 the “super-radiant” effec t and meet ing t hesti mu late d em ission definit i on.
Although measurements  have  s h ownt ha t the  new la s er i s a ls o10, 00 0  t imesles s sensi tive to mi rro rvibration th a na normal l ase r, the down- sid e of t he  me c hanis m,as th ings s t and, i s that it  c a n only generat e avery  low optical powe r .“This super-ra diantla s er i s r eal ly, really  d im,”T hompson sa y s .  “A b out a million  times weak e r t han ala ser pointe r.” B ut the  emission i s mu ch bright er tha n  wouldb e the c ase if  th e a toms th at  fo rm the ga inm edi um wereun co ordin ated , a n d th e p hysi cistbelieves that  it  wil l  be  poss ibleto g en erate  highe r pow er s in the future .

“ The light  is  c ont ai ned w i thin a  ve rynarrowrange o f  fr eq u e n ci es,” he told optic s. o r g.  “The ou tput p o we ri ncreases  a s t he s q u are o f th e  n umber of  atoms ,  s oif we c ou ld inc re ase  th e num b er o f atom s, which  is a real possibili t y, we could i n cr e a se thebri ghtness ver y qu i ckly , wi t h- i n  prin ciple  - no change in the frequ en cy lin ewidt h of the lase r.”

Anoth e r way to g ener a te more power isto us e a photod i ode anda sim ple, low -frequenc y electron icser voloo p to  phase-lock t h e  wea ksuper-r adi ant out put  to  amuc hmore powe rful las er .“P ha se- locki n g is bre ad  an dbut ter t e chnolo gy, a nd h as  b e endemonst r at e d  atth ou sand s o ftimes  low e r p ower le vels than  th a t ge ne ra ted byour, or a fut ur e super-ra di ant  laser , ”  Thompso n added.

Better atomsIt also  tu rns o ut t hat rubid ium  is no t t h e idea l atom  to u se  in a  supe r - ra dia nt  laser, an d tha t oth er  ato ms, suc h as strontium and ytt erbium, would  ac tual l y  p rov i de muc hg rea t e r stability. Us ing rubidi um ha s demonstr a ted  t he basi c physi cs of a super -radiantlaser inpr otot y p e f orm, saysThompson , but tho s e oth e ratoms  ha ve muc hlon ger-l ived e x cit ed st ates a nd  can a lso b eheld mor e gently – as has beendemons trate d i n atomiclat t ice  clocks.
“Th ere are no  kn own  obst acl e s torecr e at ing thiseffe c t using o t he r a t o ms  such as st r o n tiu m orytt e rbiumatom s, among others,” Thompson said.  “Co u l d t her e  beun foreseen probl ems ?D e finitely .But so far,  so good .” 
ForThomps on and  the re s t  o f  the N IST/ JIL A team, t hene x t steps  i nt he res earc h– fund ed inp artb y  the US Army Res earch O ffice and  theDe fense A d vanc ed Researc h ProjectsAgency  (DA RPA)– willin cludewor ki ng out how stable th e sup er-radi an t la ser  is wh en u p again st v ar iou s
 the_“super-radiant” effect_and meeting the stimulated_emission definition.

Although_measurements_have shown_that_the new laser_is also 10,000_times less sensitive to_mirror vibration than_a_normal laser, the down-side of the mechanism, as things stand, is that it can_only_generate a_very_low_optical power.

“This super-radiant laser is_really, really dim,” Thompson says._“About a_million times weaker than a laser pointer.” But_the_emission is much_brighter than would be the case if the atoms_that form the gain medium were_uncoordinated, and the_physicist_believes_that it will be_possible to generate higher powers in_the future.

“The light is contained within_a very narrow range of frequencies,” he_told optics.org. “The output power increases_as the square of the_number of_atoms, so if we could_increase the number_of atoms,_which is a_real possibility, we could increase the_brightness very quickly,_with - in principle - no_change_in the frequency_linewidth_of_the laser.”

Another_way to generate_more_power is_to_use a photodiode and a simple,_low-frequency_electronic servo loop to phase-lock the weak_super-radiant output to a_much_more powerful laser. “Phase-locking_is bread and butter technology,_and has been demonstrated at thousands_of times_lower power_levels than that generated by our, or a future super-radiant laser,”_Thompson added.

Better atoms

It also turns out_that rubidium is not_the ideal_atom_to use in_a_super-radiant laser,_and that other atoms, such as strontium_and ytterbium,_would actually provide much greater stability._Using rubidium has demonstrated_the_basic physics of a super-radiant laser_in prototype form, says Thompson, but_those other atoms have much_longer-lived_excited_states and can also be_held more gently – as has_been demonstrated in_atomic lattice clocks.

“There are no known obstacles_to_recreating this effect using other atoms_such_as strontium or ytterbium atoms, among_others,”_Thompson_said. “Could there be unforeseen_problems? Definitely. But so far, so_good.”

For Thompson and the rest of the NIST/JILA team,_the next steps_in the research – funded_in_part_by the US Army Research Office and the Defense Advanced_Research Projects_Agency (DARPA) –_will include working out how stable the super-radiant laser is_when up against various