Atomic Clocks Research - An Overview.
Abstract
The primary objective of the program is to improve the reliability and performance of the atomic frequency standards used on Air Force satellites. The investigations maintain broad expertise across the range of traditional standards, rubidium and cesium, as well as develop expertise in standards with potential satellite applications, for example the hydrogen maser and the stored-ion standard. Several areas associated with improving the performance and reliability of the rubidium standard are under investigation: analytical modeling of clock frequency stability; the origins of frequency drift; advanced, laser-based optical pumping techniques; and discharge lamp reliability. Our primary concern with the cesium standard involves improving the reliability of compact, satellite compatible designs. Topics currently being studied include graphite gettering of expended cesium, electron multiplier gain decay processes, and cesium oven performance. Investigations aimed at improving hydrogen maser performance include study of the motional narrowing process, which yields the narrow hyperfine resonance feature upon which maser operation is based; and characterization of hydrogen dissociator performance in terms of hydrogen consumption and the velocity distribution of the emitted hydrogen atoms.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 15, 1987
- Accession Number
- ADA185567
Entities
People
- Bernardo Jaduszliwer
- Charles M. Klimcak
- James C. Camparo
- Natarajan D. Bhaskar
- Robert P. Frueholz
Organizations
- The Aerospace Corporation