A framework for continuous superradiant laser operation via sequential transport of atoms

We perform a theoretical study of a continuous superradiant laser supporting its experimental realization at FEMTO-ST using two sequentially-emitting ensembles of 171 Yb atoms coupled to the same Fabry–Perot cavity. Using an open quantum system approach, we identify for the simplest case the parameter space where the laser reaches tens of picowatts of power with a sub-millihertz linewidth. Studying the impact of inhomogeneous frequency broadening and variations in atom-cavity coupling on the superradiant emission, we find the laser properties robust with respect to such perturbations, also thanks to the occurrence of synchronization of the atomic dipoles. We then consider a two-site configuration, in which atoms in each site are equally coupled to the cavity and have equal detunings, with different values for the two ensembles. We find for balanced and imbalanced atom numbers that synchronization leads in a certain parameter space to a single narrow spectral line whose central frequency follows the weighted average frequency. This result indicates that sequential loading can enable continuous superradiant emission for metrological applications, provided that the relative frequencies of the two ensembles are controlled to the level required by the target stability.