Résultat de la recherche
A cold-atom Ramsey clock with a low volume physics package
We demonstrate a Ramsey-type microwave clock interrogating the 6.835~GHz ground-state transition in cold \textsuperscript{87}Rb atoms loaded from a grating magneto-optical trap (GMOT) enclosed in an additively manufactured loop-gap resonator microwave cavity. A short-term stability of 1.5×10−11~τ−1/2 is demonstrated, in reasonable agreement with predictions from the signal-to-noise ratio of the measured Ramsey fringes. The cavity-grating package has a volume of ≈67~cm\textsuperscript{3}, ensuring an inherently compact system while the use of a GMOT drastically simplifies the optical requirements for laser cooled atoms. This work is another step towards the realisation of highly compact portable cold-atom frequency standards.
GNSS-grade space atomic frequency standards: Current status and ongoing developments
We present an overview on the current state of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS)-grade or better space atomic frequency standards’ (SAFS) technologies and discuss their applications. We estimate that a total of more than 1000 such standards were sent to space so far, the vast majority consisting of rubidium-cell frequency standards, Cs atomic beam frequency standards, and passive hydrogen masers. Finally, we review a variety of ongoing developments in view of future new generations of GNSS-grade SAFSs.
Barometric Effect in Vapor-Cell Atomic Clocks
Vapor-cell atomic clocks are compact and high-performance frequency references employed in various appli-cations ranging from telecommunication to global positioningsystems. Environmental sensitivities are often the main sourcesof long-term instabilities of the clock frequency. Among thesesensitivities, the environmental pressure shift describes the clockfrequency change with respect to the environmental pressurevariations. We report here on our theoretical and experimentalanalysis of the environmental pressure shift on rubidium atomicfrequency standards (RAFSs) operated under open atmosphere.By using an unsealed high-performance laser-pumped rubidiumstandard, we demonstrate that the deformation of the vapor-cell volume induced by the environmental pressure changes(i.e., barometric effect) is the dominant environmental pressureshift in a standard laboratory environment. An experimentalbarometric coefficient of 8.2×10−14/hPa is derived, in goodagreement with theory and with previously reported measure-ments of frequency shifts of RAFS operated when transiting tovacuum.
Double-resonance spectroscopy in Rubidium vapour-cells for high performance and miniature atomic clocks
We report our studies on using microwave-optical double-resonance (DR) spectroscopy for a high-performance Rb vapour-cell atomic clock in view of future industrial applications. The clock physics package is very compact with a total volume of only 0.8 dm3. It contains a recently in-house developed magnetron-type cavity and a Rb vapour cell. A homed-made frequency-stabilized laser system with an integrated acousto-optical-modulator (AOM) – for switching and controlling the light output power– is used as an optical source in a laser head (LH). The LH has the overall volume of 2.5 dm3 including the laser diode, optical elements, AOM and electronics. In our Rb atomic clock two schemes of continuous-wave DR and Ramsey-DR schemes are used, where the latter one strongly reduces the light-shift effect by separation of the interaction of light and microwave. Applications of the DR clock approach to more radically miniaturized atomic clocks are discussed.
An additive-manufactured microwave cavity for a compact cold-atom clock
We present an additive-manufactured microwave cavity for a Ramsey-type, double resonance, compact cold-atom clock. Atoms can be laser cooled inside the cavity using a grating magneto-optic trap with the cavity providing an excellent TE011-like mode while maintaining sufficient optical access for atomic detection. The cavity features a low Q-factor of 360 which conveniently reduces the cavity pulling of the future clock. Despite the potential porosity of the additive-manufacturing process, we demonstrate that the cavity is well-suited for vacuum. A preliminary clock setup using cold atoms allows for measuring the Zeeman spectrum and Rabi oscillations in the cavity which enables us to infer excellent field uniformity and homogeneity, respectively, across the volume accessed by the cold atoms. Ramsey spectroscopy is demonstrated, indicating that the cavity is suitable for clock applications. Finally, we discuss the limitations of the future clock.
Long-Term Stability Analysis Towards < 10-14 Level for a Highly Compact POP Rb Cell Atomic Clock
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.
Design of atomic clock cavity based on aloop-gap geometry and modified boundaryconditions
In this study, we investigate a concept that can be used to improve the magnetic field homogeneity in a microwave cavityapplied in a novel, high-performance atomic frequency standard. We show that by modifying the boundary conditions inthe case of a loop-gap geometry, a good improvement of the field homogeneity can be obtained. Such a design demonstrateshigh potential to improve the frequency stability; it is compact and hence suitable for a future generation of compact, high-precision frequency standards based on vapor cells and a pulsed optical pumping (POP) regime (POP atomic clocks).
3D printed microwave cavity for atomic clock applications: proof of concept
The authors present the realisation and characterisation of an additively manufactured (AM) microwave resonator cavity for double-resonance (DR) vapour-cell atomic clocks. The design of the compact microwave cavity is based on the loop-gap resonator approach, previously demonstrated for conventionally-machined aluminium components. In the present study, the resonator is fabricated by AM using a metal-coated polymer. A resonance frequency at the desired 6.835 GHz rubidium atomic frequency is obtained. When employed in an atomic clock setup, the AM cavity enables a DR signal of <;500 Hz linewidth and of nearly 20% contrast, thus fulfilling the stringent requirements for DR atomic clocks. A clock short-term stability of 1 × 10 -12 τ -1/2 is demonstrated, comparable to state-of-the-art clock performances.
Optically-detected spin-echo method for relaxation times measurements in a Rb atomic vapor
Weintroduce and demonstrate an experimental method, optically-detected spin-echo (ODSE), to measure ground-state relaxation times of a rubidium (Rb) atomic vapor held in a glass cell with buffergas. The work is motivated by our studies on high-performance Rb atomic clocks, where both population and coherence relaxation times (T1 and T2, respectively) of the ‘clock transition’ (52S1/2 ∣Fg = 1, mF = 0ñ « ∣Fg = 2, mF = 0ñ) are relevant.OurODSEmethod is inspired by classical nuclear magnetic resonance spin-echo method, combined with optical detection. In contrast to other existing methods, like continuous-wave double-resonance (CW-DR) and Ramsey-DR, principles of the ODSE method allow suppression of decoherence arising from the inhomogeneity of the static magnetic field across the vapor cell, thus enabling measurements of intrinsic relaxation rates, as properties of the cell alone. Our experimental result for the coherence relaxation time, specific for the clock transition, measured with the ODSE method is in good agreement with the theoretical prediction, and the ODSE results are validated by comparison to those obtained with Franzen,CWDRand Ramsey-DR methods. The method is of interest for a wide variety of quantum optics experiments with optical signal readout.