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Affolderbach, Christoph
Nom
Affolderbach, Christoph
Affiliation principale
Fonction
Collaborateur scientifique
Email
christoph.affolderbach@unine.ch
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Résultat de la recherche
Voici les éléments 1 - 10 sur 14
- PublicationMétadonnées seulementLong-Term Stability Analysis Towards < 10-14 Level for a Highly Compact POP Rb Cell Atomic Clock(2019-4-14)
; ; ; ; Long-term frequency instabilities in vapor-cell clocks mainly arise from fluctuations of the experimental and environmental parameters that are converted to clock frequency fluctuations via various physical processes. Here, we discuss the frequency sensitivities and the resulting stability limitations at one day timescale for a rubidium vapor-cell clock based on a compact magnetron-type cavity operated in air (no vacuum environment). Under ambient laboratory conditions, the external atmospheric pressure fluctuations may dominantly limit the clock stability via the barometric effect. We establish a complete long-term instability budget for our clock operated under stable pressure conditions. Where possible, the fluctuations of experimental parameters are measured via the atomic response. The measured clock instability of < 2·E10.14 at one day is limited by the intensity light-shift effect, which could further be reduced by active stabilization of the laser intensity or stronger optical pumping. The analyses reported here show the way towards simple, compact, and low-power vapor-cell atomic clocks with excellent long-term stabilities. ≤ 10.14 at one day when operated in ambient laboratory conditions. - PublicationMétadonnées seulementHigh performance vapour-cell frequency standards(: Journal of Physics: Conference Series 723, 2015-10-27)
; ; ; ; ; ; We report our investigations on a compact high-performance rubidium (Rb) vapour-cell clock based on microwave-optical double-resonance (DR). These studies are done in both DR continuous-wave (CW) and Ramsey schemes using the same Physics Package (PP), with the same Rb vapour cell and a magnetron-type cavity with only 45 cm3 external volume. In the CW-DR scheme, we demonstrate a DR signal with a contrast of 26% and a linewidth of 334 Hz; in Ramsey-DR mode Ramsey signals with higher contrast up to 35% and a linewidth of 160 Hz have been demonstrated. Short-term stabilities of 1.4×10^-13 τ^-1/2 and 2.4×10^-13 τ^-1/2 are measured for CW-DR and Ramsey-DR schemes, respectively. In the Ramsey-DR operation, thanks to the separation of light and microwave interactions in time, the light-shift effect has been suppressed which allows improving the long-term clock stability as compared to CW-DR operation. Implementations in miniature atomic clocks are considered. - PublicationMétadonnées seulementImaging the Static Magnetic Field Distribution in a Vapor Cell Atomic Clock(2015-4-12)
; ; - PublicationMétadonnées seulementSpectroscopy of micro-fabricated Cs vapour cells for miniature atomic clocks(2010-9-20)
; ; In this paper we present our spectroscopic studies on Coherent Population Trapping (CPT) in micro-fabricated Caesium cells and our evaluation of its application in miniature atomic frequency standards (atomic clocks). We observe the CPT signal on the Cs D1-line by coupling two hyperfine ground-state Zeeman sub-levels to a common excited state using two coherent electromagnetic fields created with a modulated DFB laser. Contrarily to double resonance, CPT does not require any microwave cavity, which should facilitate the miniaturization of a future atomic clock device. We study and report here on the light shift phenomena at different cell temperatures and laser wavelength. We also present resonance shifts due to cell temperature variations and clock frequency stability measurements. To the best of our knowledge, this article is the first report on light shift with Cs D1 line in a CPT vapour-cell atomic clock. - PublicationMétadonnées seulementRecherches sur les horloges atomiques miniatures et optiques(2007)
; ; ; ; - PublicationMétadonnées seulementSub-Doppler diode laser frequency stabilization with the DAVLL scheme on the D1 line of a 87Rb vapor-cell(2006-9-18)
; ; - PublicationAccès libreFrequency-stabilised laser reference system for trace-gas sensing applications from space(2006-6-27)
; ; ; ; Thévenaz, LucA four-wavelength low-power continuous-wave frequency laser reference system has been realised in the 935.4-nm range for water vapour differential absorption lidar (DIAL) applications. The system is built around laboratory extended-cavity and DFB diode lasers. Three lasers are directly locked to three water vapour absorption lines of different strength, whereas the wavelength of the fourth laser lies out of any absorption line (offline). On-line stabilisation is performed by wavelength modulation spectroscopy technique, while precise offline stabilisation is realised by an offset locking at 18.8 GHz. Offset frequency larger than 320 GHz has also been demonstrated at 1.55 μm, based on an all-fibre optical frequency comb. First steps towards the use of a photonic crystal fibre as ultra compact reference cell with long optical pathlength were realised. The developed techniques for direct and offset-lock laser stabilisation can also be applied to other gases and wavelengths, provided the required optical components are available for the laser wavelength considered. - PublicationMétadonnées seulementGas-cell atomic clocks for space: new results and alternative schemes(2006-6-27)
; ; We present our development activities on compact Rubidium gas-cell atomic frequency standards, for use in space-borne and ground-based applications. We experimentally demonstrate a high-performance laser optically-pumped Rb clock for space applications such as telecommunications, science missions, and satellite navigation systems (e.g. GALILEO). Using a stabilised laser source and optimized gas cells, we reach clock stabilities as low as 1.5·10-12 τ-1/2 up to 103 s and 4·10-14 at 104 s. The results demonstrate the feasibility of a laser-pumped Rb clock reaching < 1·10-12 τ-1/2 in a compact device (<2 liters, 2 kg, 20 W), given optimization of the implemented techniques. A second activity concerns more radically miniaturized gas-cell clocks, aiming for low power consumption and a total volume around 1 cm3 , at the expense of relaxed frequency stability. Here miniaturized “chip-scale” vapour cells and use of coherent laser interrogation techniques are at the heart of the investigations. - PublicationMétadonnées seulementSpectral characterisation of tuneable narrow-band diode lasers for Rb atomic spectroscopy and precision instruments(2004-9-20)
; We have characterized teh spectral properties and wavelength tuning behaviour of different types of diode lasers in order to evaluate their potential for applications in atomic spectroscopy and precision instruments. Here we report on studies of recently developed distributed feedback (DFB) and Fabry-Perot laser diodes, emitting around 780 and 795 nm, in solitary operation as well as in an extended-cavity configuration. In solitary operation both types of laser studied show continuous tuning ranges beyond 40 GHz and single-mode emission linewidths around 6 MHz, which makes them interesting candidates for use in high-precision instruments based on atomic spectroscopy such as atomic frequency standards and atomic magnetometers. - PublicationMétadonnées seulementLaser optical pumping in Rb vapour-cell atomic clocks (Invited Paper)(2004-9-20)
; We discuss the basic physical principles of laser optical pumping double-resonance spectroscopy, which form the basis of state-of-the-art vapour-cell atomic frequency standards using laser optical pumping of Rb atoms. The main effects limiting the frequency stability of Rb vapour-cell atomic clocks are identified, and their impact on the development of high-performance frequency standars and their transfer from research laboratories to industry and space is discussed. As examples, the impact of the AC stark effect and the realated issue of laser frequency stabilisation are dealt with in more detail. The main features of the present state-of-the-art Rb atomic frequency standards will be illustrated using the example of the development of atomic clocks for satellite navigation and positioning systems (GPS, GLONAS, GALILEO, etc.) as well as some directions for further improvements that could overcome present day limitations. Such compact Rb clocks find their applications in, for example, telecommunications, local timekeeping and synchronisation, and space applications like satellite navigation and science missions. An overview of other, alternative clock schemes is given and critical issues for future developments towards further performance improvement or device miniaturisation in the field of vapour-cell atomic clocks are discussed.