The Quantum Physics of Atomic Frequency Standards: Recent Developments

Robert P. Rafuse

Jacques Vanier, Cipriana Tomescu

Up-to-Date Coverage of Stable and Accurate Frequency StandardsThe Quantum Physics of Atomic Frequency Standards: Recent Developments covers advances in atomic frequency standards (atomic clocks) from the last several decades. It explains the use of various techniques, such as laser optical pumping, coherent population trapping, laser cooling, and e

David A. Howe

V. A. Dubkov, E. V. Kulagin, A. I. Pikhtelev +1 more

Paul D. Kunz, Thomas P. Heavner, Steven R. Jefferts

We are developing a transportable laser-cooled rubidium (Rb) atomic fountain frequency standard. We have a complete optical package, and have recently shown cooled, launched, and detected atoms. Additionally, a new physics package has been designed and is currently under construction. Here we describe the recent progress made on this project, including refinements to our optical package and its evaluation, and our design choices for the physics package.

Peter Fisk

The stability and accuracy of atomic microwave frequency standards (atomic clocks) have been improving at a rate exceeding one order of magnitude per decade for the past 30 years. This sustained improvement has been driven mainly by the many and diverse technological applications requiring highly stable and accurate time and frequency standards. There is no reason to suspect that this rate of progress is slowing. Over the last decade, research and development in atomic frequency standards has tended increasingly towards the use of atom and ion trapping technologies to approach the supposedly ideal unperturbed atomic frequency reference consisting of a single atom or ion either motionless or in free-fall in a perfect, field-free vacuum. This work has been facilitated by the relatively recent development of techniques whereby laser light is used to cool, confine and manipulate atoms or ions. This paper reviews the current status of atomic microwave frequency standards based on trapped atoms and trapped ions, and attempts to explain the motivation for their development and the principles of their operation, with particular emphasis on the physics of factors which limit their performance.