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Joint Conference of the European Frequency and Time Forum and IEEE International Frequency Control Symposium (EFTF/IFCS)

Development of flight technology for future laser-cooled space clocks

William M. Klipstein, Robert J. Thompson, David J. Seidel, Lute Maleki

Published Nov 8, 2002• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

We report on the development of flight technologies to be used in space-based, laser-cooled atomic clocks scheduled to fly on the International Space Station. The core technologies for these and future Laser Cooling and Atomic Physics (LCAP) missions are being developed in the Time and Frequency Sciences and Technology group at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The focus is on high-risk components such as the laser and optics subsystem and mechanical shutters to provide light baffling while allowing quasi-continuous atomic beams through the clock.

DOI
10.1109/freq.2000.887433

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We report on the development of flight technologies to be used in space-based, laser-cooled atomic clocks scheduled to fly on the International Space Station. The core technologies for these and future Laser Cooling and Atomic Physics (LCAP) missions are being developed in the Time and Frequency Sciences and Technology group at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The focus is on high-risk components such as the laser and optics subsystem and mechanical shutters to provide light baffling while allowing quasi-continuous atomic beams through the clock.
Summary form only given. The long observation times afforded by laser cooling of neutral atoms ushered in a new era of accuracy and stability for cesium atomic clocks. Traditional thermal beam atomic clocks are limited to interaction times of only a few milliseconds, while with laser cooling times of order 1 second have been realized with high stability. Most laser cooled clocks use a "fountain" geometry, in which the atoms are thrown up against the pull of gravity and realize longer times before falling back to the bottom of the apparatus. We have been developing a laser-cooling apparatus for flight on the International Space Station (ISS), with the intention of demonstrating linewidths of the cesium clock transition narrower than can be realized on the ground.
Over the past decade, trapped ion atomic clock development at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has focused on two directions: 1) new atomic clock technology for space flight applications that require strict adherence to size, weight, and power requirements, and 2) ultra-stable atomic clocks, usually for terrestrial applications emphasizing ultimate performance. In this paper we present a new ultra-stable trapped ion clock designed, built, and tested in the second category. The first new standard, L10, will be delivered to the Naval Research Laboratory for use in characterizing DoD space clocks.
The goals of the Glovebox Laser-cooled Atomic Clock Experiment (GLACE) are: (1) first utilization of tunable, frequency-stabilized lasers in space, (2) demonstrate laser cooling and trapping in microgravity, (3) demonstrate longest 'perturbation-free' interaction time for a precision measurement on neutral atoms, (4) Resolve Ramsey fringes 2-10 times narrower than achievable on Earth. The approach taken is: the use of COTS components, and the utilization of prototype hardware from LCAP flight definition experiments. The launch date is scheduled for Oct. 2002. The Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG) specifications are reviewed, and a picture of the MSG is shown.
The primary atomic reference clock in space (PARCS) is a collaboration between the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and the University of Colorado to build a laser-cooled cesium-beam atomic clock as a science payload for the International Space Station (ISS). The three primary goals of the PARCS experiment are: (1) to demonstrate laser cooling of atoms in space; (2) to use laser cooling to build the most accurate space clock; (3) to use the clock to test fundamental assumptions and predictions of relativity theory. We discuss aspects of the PARCS cesium physics package subsystem design addressing magnetic, microwave and vacuum requirements as well as operational scenarios.
Terrestrial optical atomic clocks based on laser cooled atoms confined in the Lamb-Dicke regime in optical lattice traps or ion traps are the most precise and accurate measurement devices of any kind, and can be used to look for very small deviations from the predictions of the Standard Model that would hint at new physics. In this talk, I will discuss the design trade space for robust, autonomous, low-SWaP optical clocks for space, focusing primarily on trapped-ion clocks due to their lower complexity and laser power requirements. I will discuss the potential of integrated photonics to drastically reduce SWaP and increase robustness, and highlight performance targets for future development. Furthermore, I will discuss quantum metrology algorithms that can be used to alleviate the laser system performance requirements and suppress sensitivity to environmental noise. Finally, I will conclude by discussing the new physics reach of various optical atomic clock space flight mission scenarios.