Ultrastable Optical Reference Cavity System
Contract Opportunity Analysis
The National Institute of Standards and Technology is conducting a sources sought market research effort for an ultrastable optical reference cavity system for its quantum sensing project, to help determine the acquisition approach and whether a small business set-aside is possible. The required system is a 1396 nm optical frequency reference cavity system with a secondary 689 nm operating wavelength, and the vendor must provide the cavity hardware along with the ion pump, cables, controller, vacuum valve, and related characterization of the zero-crossing temperature. Key technical requirements include 6x10^(-16) thermal noise fractional frequency stability, a stabilized laser linewidth below 1 Hz, AR coating, low-vibration vacuum housing, temperature control below 1 mK/day, and a thermal time constant of about 38 hours. Capability statements must be emailed to Angela Hitt, be four pages or less, identify the manufacturer and country of origin, and no quotes are being accepted at this stage; the work is to be delivered, installed, and trained within 20 weeks ARO, with a two-month acceptance period and a 12-month/3000-hour warranty.