Joint Conference of the European Frequency and Time Forum and IEEE International Frequency Control Symposium (EFTF/IFCS)
Low power 85Rb CPT atomic clock
Shigeyoshi Goka, Okura Taisuke, Moroyama Munetake, Yasuaki Watanabe
Abstract
This paper outlines the features of the85Rb vapor cell atomic clock, the coherent population trapping (CPT) resonance in an85Rb/87Rb mixed vapor cell, and the results of the frequency stabilities of a pilot system. The experiments were performed with a sealed vapor cell containing a natural mixture of Rb isotopes and a buffer gas. Excitation of the CPT resonance was accomplished using a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser modulated at 1.5, 3.0, 3.4 and 6.8 GHz, which corresponded to the full- and half-ground-state hyperfine frequencies of85Rb and87Rb. The results show that the CPT resonances at both85Rb and87Rb can be observed separately. The frequency stabilities of the output signals for each CPT resonance were ≪ 10x10−12/day for85Rb and ≪ 6x10−12/day for87Rb. In addition, the RF modulation signal power for85Rb was 1.1 dB less than that of87Rb, which was 3.4GHz.