Raman laser system and radio frequency experiments for driving two-photon transitions in 87Rb

This report presents two approaches for driving two-photon transitions between hyperfine states in the Rb ground state. These hyperfine states are intended for use as qubit states in quantum information processing with neutral atoms. The first approach uses microwave and radio frequency fields, and experiments on microwave singleand two-photon transitions showing the magnetically dependent Zeeman splitting are presented. The second approach uses two near infrared laser light fields, and a Raman laser setup using two external cavity diode lasers with relative frequency and phase locking is presented. A phase lock is not yet possible because the combined line width of the lasers (around 6 MHz) is comparable tot he locking bandwidth of the phase locked loop, but a robust relative frequency lock with a large capturing range is achieved. A theoretical analysis of two-photon transitions is also included. Bachelors Project in physics Universiteit van Amsterdam