(DURIP-95) Nano-Kelvin Cooling of Dense Atoms for an Ultra-Stable Fountain Atomic Clock.
Abstract
With the funding provided under this grant, we have procured equipments for creating a sample of 87Rb atoms with ultracold temperature (35 nano-Kelvin) and high density (10(exp 12 /sq cm), using Raman cooling via velocity selective coherent population trapping. We have already been able to create a magneto-optic trap (MOT) of 87Rb atoms, loaded from background rubidium vapor inside the trap chamber. We have achieved a density close to 10(exp 12) /sq cm, at a temperature of 80 mu-K, which is typical of such a trap. The next step is to load the trap from a chirp-slowed atomic beam, and use a repumping beam which is dark at the center. This is expected to increase the density to about 10(exp 12) /sq cm. We will then Raman- cool the sample to about 35 nano-Kelvin, thus yielding a sample for a rubidium fountain clock. The fountain clock loaded from this source is expected to have a short term accuracy that is more than two orders of magnitude better than existing cesium fountain, which are already a factor of two better than existing cesium beam clocks used as primary frequency standards.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA321852
Entities
People
- Selim Shahriar
- Shaoul Ezekiel
Organizations
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology