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

Progress in Electromagnetic Research Symposium

The progress of pulsed optically pumped rubidium clock at SIOM

Gongxun Dong, Jianliao Deng, Jinda Lin, Song Zhang, Yuzhu Wang

Published Aug 1, 2016• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

In this paper, we present a laboratory prototype of POP atomic clock with dispersive detection developed at Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics (SIOM). A new physics package is designed in order to improve the homogeneity of the H-field orientation. The Ramsey fringe is presented with an ultrahigh contrast of 91% and line-width of 130 Hz. A clock frequency stability of 6.14 × 10-13@1 s is obtained and the level of 2 × 10-14is achieved at an average time of τ = 1000 s.

DOI
10.1109/piers.2016.7735410

Related papers

The pulsed optically pumped Rb frequency standards in National Time Service Center

Du Zhi-jing, Shougang Zhang, Jie Liu +3 more

In this paper we report a laboratory prototype of pulsed optically pumped (POP) rubidium frequency standard. In POP operation the pumping, interrogation, and detection phases are separated in time, avoiding the coupling between microwave and optical coherence. The POP87Rb vapor-cell frequency standard was studied experimentally based on the detection of free induction microwave signal or optical absorption signal. Ramsey fringes were obtained based on87Rb in buffer gas, with FWHM of 65Hz and 150Hz for microwave and optical central Ramsey fringes respectively. The atomic quality factor was on the order of 108. With microwave detection, the achieved frequency stability was 1.2×10-12τ-1/2(τ=1~100s).

Joint Conference of the European Frequency and Time Forum and IEEE International Frequency Control Symposium (EFTF/IFCS)•May 1, 2012•2 citations

Pulsed optically pumped rubidium clock with ultrahigh resonance contrast

Deng Jianliao, 林锦达 Lin Jinda, Qian Jun +3 more

In this paper, we report a dispersive detection technique with ultrahigh resonance contrast based on magneto-optical effect. To demonstrate specifically the advantages of the dispersive detection, we applied it in the pulsed optically pumped (POP) clock to obtain the clock signal. The contrast of Ramsey central fringe versus the parameters of pumping light, detection light and microwave power are studied experimentally. An ultrahigh resonance contrast greater than 90% is obtained. The frequency stability of POP clock in terms of Allan deviation for dispersive detection is improved by an order of magnitude over the absorptive detection under equivalent condition. We also present the preliminary experimental result in case of off resonance detection where a laser with large frequency detuning is used as detection light. The signal intensity detected by off resonance light is improved about 70% than the resonant light.

Joint Conference of the European Frequency and Time Forum and IEEE International Frequency Control Symposium (EFTF/IFCS)•May 1, 2014•1 citation

Pulsed optical pumping in a Rb vapor cell using a compact magnetron-type microwave cavity

Songbai Kang, C. Affolderbach, Florian Gruet +3 more

A compact magnetron-type microwave cavity has previously been developed for a high performance Rb atomic clock based on conventional continuous-wave double-resonance (DR) interrogation. This magnetron-type cavity shows a homogenous microwave field distribution while having a cavity volume of only 35 cm3. So it is interesting for realizing a high performance Rb cell clock based on pulsed optical pumping (POP) technique with a reduced physics package size. In this proceeding we report on the evaluation of pulsed optical pumping with our magnetron-type cavity. Using the pulsed technique and optical detection, high-contrast Ramsey fringes were observed. The central fringe of the Ramsey signal has a linewidth of 160 Hz and contrast of 35%. Under these conditions, the shot-noise limit is estimated at a level around 2×10-14τ-1/2which shows the great potential of a POP clock based on the compact magnetron-type cavity. The Rabi oscillation result also indicates an acceptable uniform field distribution inside the cavity for a high-performance POP clock. Some optimizations of pumping and detection power for improving the contrast are also presented.

European Frequency and Time Forum•Jun 1, 2014•6 citations

Frequency stability of a pulsed optically pumped atomic clock with narrow Ramsey linewidth

Haixiao Lin, Jianliao Deng, Jinda Lin +2 more

In general, the linewidth of the Ramsey central fringe (RCF) is equal to 1/(2T), where T is the Ramsey free-evolution time. We demonstrate that the RCF linewidth of a pulsed optically pumped (POP) atomic clock with orthogonal polarization detection based on the magneto-optical rotation effect can be narrowed down to 1/(4T). The Allan deviation of the POP atomic clock decreases from 2.4×10−13τ−1/2 to 1.4×10−13τ−1/2. This corresponds to an improvement in the frequency stability by about 60%. We also estimate the main noise sources that limit the short-term frequency stability of the POP atomic clock.

Applied Optics•Apr 12, 2018•14 citations

Pulsed optically pumped Rb clock: A high stability vapor cell frequency standard

Filippo Levi, Claudio Eligio Calosso, A. Godone +1 more

In this paper we report the results we obtained with a prototype of pulsed optically pumped (POP) Rb clock. In terms of frequency stability, an Allan deviation σy(τ)=1.7 ×10-13τ-1/2has been measured, where τ is the integration time. In addition, the long term frequency drift results below 10-14/day. In the paper we also describe a technique to stabilize the amplitude of the microwave signal using the atoms themselves as discriminator. Moreover, an anomalously large temperature sensitivity of the clock frequency and a technique to keep it under control are also reported. Finally, we describe some non linear effects that modify the shape of the clock signal represented by the Ramsey central fringe.

Joint Conference of the European Frequency and Time Forum and IEEE International Frequency Control Symposium (EFTF/IFCS)•Jul 1, 2013•1 citation

Microwave Pulse-Coherent Technique-Based Clock With a Novel Magnetron-Type Cavity

Qiang Hao, Wenxiang Xue, Wenbing Li +5 more

We report a high-performance pulsed optically pumped (POP) Rb clock based on a novel magnetron-type microwave cavity. The cavity has a volume of 30 mL, enabling a highly homogenous microwave field distribution. With the laser frequency tuning to the ground-state hyperfine level F = 2 of the D2line, we observe a Ramsey fringe contrast of 52% in terms of optical absorption detection. The resultant shot noise limit is estimated to be 1.6 × 10-14τ-1/2. The clock frequency stability is measured as 2.3 × 10-13τ-1/2(1-100 s), which is limited by the relative intensity noise of the light.

IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control•Nov 26, 2019•16 citations
In this paper, we present a laboratory prototype of POP atomic clock with dispersive detection developed at Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics (SIOM). A new physics package is designed in order to improve the homogeneity of the H-field orientation. The Ramsey fringe is presented with an ultrahigh contrast of 91% and line-width of 130 Hz. A clock frequency stability of 6.14 × 10-13@1 s is obtained and the level of 2 × 10-14is achieved at an average time of τ = 1000 s.
In this paper we report a laboratory prototype of pulsed optically pumped (POP) rubidium frequency standard. In POP operation the pumping, interrogation, and detection phases are separated in time, avoiding the coupling between microwave and optical coherence. The POP87Rb vapor-cell frequency standard was studied experimentally based on the detection of free induction microwave signal or optical absorption signal. Ramsey fringes were obtained based on87Rb in buffer gas, with FWHM of 65Hz and 150Hz for microwave and optical central Ramsey fringes respectively. The atomic quality factor was on the order of 108. With microwave detection, the achieved frequency stability was 1.2×10-12τ-1/2(τ=1~100s).
In this paper, we report a dispersive detection technique with ultrahigh resonance contrast based on magneto-optical effect. To demonstrate specifically the advantages of the dispersive detection, we applied it in the pulsed optically pumped (POP) clock to obtain the clock signal. The contrast of Ramsey central fringe versus the parameters of pumping light, detection light and microwave power are studied experimentally. An ultrahigh resonance contrast greater than 90% is obtained. The frequency stability of POP clock in terms of Allan deviation for dispersive detection is improved by an order of magnitude over the absorptive detection under equivalent condition. We also present the preliminary experimental result in case of off resonance detection where a laser with large frequency detuning is used as detection light. The signal intensity detected by off resonance light is improved about 70% than the resonant light.
A compact magnetron-type microwave cavity has previously been developed for a high performance Rb atomic clock based on conventional continuous-wave double-resonance (DR) interrogation. This magnetron-type cavity shows a homogenous microwave field distribution while having a cavity volume of only 35 cm3. So it is interesting for realizing a high performance Rb cell clock based on pulsed optical pumping (POP) technique with a reduced physics package size. In this proceeding we report on the evaluation of pulsed optical pumping with our magnetron-type cavity. Using the pulsed technique and optical detection, high-contrast Ramsey fringes were observed. The central fringe of the Ramsey signal has a linewidth of 160 Hz and contrast of 35%. Under these conditions, the shot-noise limit is estimated at a level around 2×10-14τ-1/2which shows the great potential of a POP clock based on the compact magnetron-type cavity. The Rabi oscillation result also indicates an acceptable uniform field distribution inside the cavity for a high-performance POP clock. Some optimizations of pumping and detection power for improving the contrast are also presented.
In general, the linewidth of the Ramsey central fringe (RCF) is equal to 1/(2T), where T is the Ramsey free-evolution time. We demonstrate that the RCF linewidth of a pulsed optically pumped (POP) atomic clock with orthogonal polarization detection based on the magneto-optical rotation effect can be narrowed down to 1/(4T). The Allan deviation of the POP atomic clock decreases from 2.4×10−13τ−1/2 to 1.4×10−13τ−1/2. This corresponds to an improvement in the frequency stability by about 60%. We also estimate the main noise sources that limit the short-term frequency stability of the POP atomic clock.
In this paper we report the results we obtained with a prototype of pulsed optically pumped (POP) Rb clock. In terms of frequency stability, an Allan deviation σy(τ)=1.7 ×10-13τ-1/2has been measured, where τ is the integration time. In addition, the long term frequency drift results below 10-14/day. In the paper we also describe a technique to stabilize the amplitude of the microwave signal using the atoms themselves as discriminator. Moreover, an anomalously large temperature sensitivity of the clock frequency and a technique to keep it under control are also reported. Finally, we describe some non linear effects that modify the shape of the clock signal represented by the Ramsey central fringe.
We report a high-performance pulsed optically pumped (POP) Rb clock based on a novel magnetron-type microwave cavity. The cavity has a volume of 30 mL, enabling a highly homogenous microwave field distribution. With the laser frequency tuning to the ground-state hyperfine level F = 2 of the D2line, we observe a Ramsey fringe contrast of 52% in terms of optical absorption detection. The resultant shot noise limit is estimated to be 1.6 × 10-14τ-1/2. The clock frequency stability is measured as 2.3 × 10-13τ-1/2(1-100 s), which is limited by the relative intensity noise of the light.