Bulletin of the Lebedev Physics Institute
Development of the quantum discriminator for compact atomic clock
A. V. Sivak, Sergei A. Zibrov
Abstract
In the Laboratory of Frequency Standards, Quantum Radiophysics Division, Lebedev Physical Institute, a compact atomic standard of frequency and time is being developed. The results of this study make it possible to achieve a narrower metrological resonance of coherent population trapping (CPT) than in developed foreign analogues of compact atomic clocks, which will have a direct effect on the standard stability. The effect of the combination of buffer gas and antirelaxation coating on the CPT amplitude and resonance width are studied; parameters of short-cavity diode lasers (SCDLs) specially developed in collaboration with the Polyus Research and Development Institute are studied. A prototype of the compact physical discriminator for the atomic clock is developed and assembled. The dark width of the metrological resonance in the discriminator is less than 1 kHz, which theoretically implies the development of a compact atomic clock with a stability (Allan parameter) no worse than 3 · 10 −12 per hour.