Comparison of laser system designs for quantum technologies: BECCAL flight system vs. BECCAL ground test bed
Abstract We present the design of laser systems for the Bose-Einstein Condensate and Cold Atom Laboratory (BECCAL) payload, enabling numerous quantum technological experiments onboard the International Space Station (ISS), in particular dual species 87 Rb and 41 K Bose-Einstein condensates. A flight model (FM) and a commercial off the shelf (COTS) based model are shown, both of which meet the BECCAL requirements in terms of functionality, but have differing size, weight and power (SWaP) and environmental requirements. The capabilities of both models are discussed and characteristics compared. The flight model of BECCAL uses specifically developed and qualified custom components to create a compact and robust system suitable for long-term remote operation onboard the ISS. This system is based on ECDL-MOPA lasers and free-space optical benches made of Zerodur, as well as commercial fibre components. The COTS-based system utilizes entirely commercial parts to create a functionally equivalent system for operation in a standard laboratory, without the strict SWaP and environmental constraints of the flight model.
Authors
- Achim Peters (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5538-9250)
- Matthias Schoch
- Andreas Wicht (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9815-9911)
- Hamish Beck
- M. Dammasch
- K. Sengstock (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1985-7835)
- Victoria Henderson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9233-589X)
- Marvin G. Warner (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9767-5511)
- Max Schiemangk (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8666-9922)
- Karl Häusler (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4536-8944)
- E. del Pino Rosendo
- Jean Pierre Marburger (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3404-7758)
- Ortwin Hellmig
- Tobias Franke
- A. Hahn
- Tim Kroh (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8196-624X)
- André Wenzlawski (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2347-9643)
- Bastian Leykauf (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4630-0602)
- Robert Smol
- Jonas Strobelt (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-8369-1228)
- Christoph Grzeschik
- Jan Markus Baumann
- Patrick Windpassinger (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3745-4351)
- Ahmad Bawamia
- Faruk A. Sellami
- Hrudya Thaivalappil Sunilkumar
- Evgeny Kovalchuk
- Christiane Weise
- B. Hansen
- Sören Boles
- Jakob Pohl
- Christian Kürbis
- Mareen Laura Czech
- Marc Kitzmann
Institutions
- Universität Hamburg (DE)
- University of Bremen (DE)
- Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (DE)
- Ferdinand-Braun-Institut (DE)
- Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (DE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- EPJ Quantum Technology
- Published
- 2025-11-26
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1140/epjqt/s40507-025-00444-0
- Primary Topic
- Cold Atom Physics and Bose-Einstein Condensates
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00