Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Comptes Rendus de l Académie des Sciences - Series IV - Physics-Astrophysics

Cold atoms in space and atomic clocks: ACES

Ch Salomon, N. Dimarcq, Michel Abgrall, Andr  Clairon, Philippe Laurent, P. Lemonde, Giorgio Santarelli, Pierre Uhrich, L.-G. Bernier, Giovanni Busca, A. Jornod, P. Thomann, Étienne Samain, Peter Wolf, François Gonzalez, Ph. Guillemot, S. Leon, F. Nouël, Ch. Sirmain, S. Feltham

Published Nov 1, 2001• 54 citations
Publisher
DOI
10.1016/s1296-2147(01)01274-4

Related papers

Cold atom space clock with counter-propagating atoms

吕德胜, 汪斌, 李唐 +1 more

Chinese Optics Letters•Jan 1, 2010•0 citations

Cold Atom Clocks In Space: Pharao And Aces

Ch Salomon

cosp•Jan 1, 2004•3 citations

Principle and Progress of Cold Atom Clock in Space

屈求智 Qu Qiuzhi, 汪斌 Wang Bin, 吕德胜 Lü Desheng +4 more

Chinese Journal of Lasers•Jan 1, 2015•3 citations

Atomic Clocks and Cold Atom Scattering

Chad Fertig, Ronald Legere, J.Irfon Rees +3 more

Springer eBooks•Jan 1, 2003•1 citation

Test of a space cold atom clock prototype in the absence of gravity

P. Lemonde, Philippe Laurent, E. Simon +5 more

We describe a space cold atom clock prototype and its operation on board an aircraft. We have recorded the atomic resonance in zero gravity during parabolic flights. This experiment must be considered as an essential step toward the construction of a space clock using cold atoms. In a microgravity environment, a cold atomic clock would outperform all ground-based clocks. By the year 2002, we plan to operate a cold atom clock on board the international space station. This mission is called Atomic Clock Ensemble in Space (ACES). We have also performed a preliminary accuracy evaluation of the prototype. The interrogation of the cold atoms is performed inside a TE/sub 013/ cavity. On earth, the phase variations of the field induce a relative frequency shift of about 1/spl times/10/sup -13/. Although the frequency shift is expected to strongly decrease in microgravity, this cavity does not seem suitable for a 1/spl times/10/sup -16/ frequency uncertainty.

IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement•Apr 1, 1999•14 citations

PHARAO flight model: optical on ground performance tests

Ch. Delaroche, Ph. Gasc, Andria Ratsimandresy +18 more

PHARAO (Projet d'Horloge Atomique par Refroidissement d'Atomes en Orbite), which has been developed by CNES, is the first primary frequency standard specially designed for operation in space. PHARAO is the main instrument of the ESA mission ACES (Atomic Clock Ensemble in Space). ACES payload will be installed on-board the International Space Station (ISS) to perform fundamental physics experiments. All the sub-systems of the Flight Model (FM) have now passed the qualification process and the whole FM of the cold cesium clock, PHARAO, is being assembled and will undergo extensive tests. The expected performances in space are frequency accuracy less than 3.10-16 (with a final goal at 10-16) and frequency stability of 10-13 τ-1/2. In this paper, we focus on the laser source performances and the main results on the cold atom manipulation.

International Conference on Space Optics (ICSO)•Nov 16, 2017•1 citation
We describe a space cold atom clock prototype and its operation on board an aircraft. We have recorded the atomic resonance in zero gravity during parabolic flights. This experiment must be considered as an essential step toward the construction of a space clock using cold atoms. In a microgravity environment, a cold atomic clock would outperform all ground-based clocks. By the year 2002, we plan to operate a cold atom clock on board the international space station. This mission is called Atomic Clock Ensemble in Space (ACES). We have also performed a preliminary accuracy evaluation of the prototype. The interrogation of the cold atoms is performed inside a TE/sub 013/ cavity. On earth, the phase variations of the field induce a relative frequency shift of about 1/spl times/10/sup -13/. Although the frequency shift is expected to strongly decrease in microgravity, this cavity does not seem suitable for a 1/spl times/10/sup -16/ frequency uncertainty.
PHARAO (Projet d'Horloge Atomique par Refroidissement d'Atomes en Orbite), which has been developed by CNES, is the first primary frequency standard specially designed for operation in space. PHARAO is the main instrument of the ESA mission ACES (Atomic Clock Ensemble in Space). ACES payload will be installed on-board the International Space Station (ISS) to perform fundamental physics experiments. All the sub-systems of the Flight Model (FM) have now passed the qualification process and the whole FM of the cold cesium clock, PHARAO, is being assembled and will undergo extensive tests. The expected performances in space are frequency accuracy less than 3.10-16 (with a final goal at 10-16) and frequency stability of 10-13 τ-1/2. In this paper, we focus on the laser source performances and the main results on the cold atom manipulation.