Rubidium-Fountain Characterization Using the USNO Clock Ensemble

Abstract

We have carried out stability comparisons between our rubidium fountain, built as a prototype for a continuously operating clock, and the USNO Maser Mean timescale. Long, continuous runs of the prototype system allow us to demonstrate fractional frequency-stability comparisons to the Maser Mean that integrate as white frequency noise, with a stability of 5 10(exp -16) at one day. We have measured the frequency sensitivity of the rubidium fountain to various experimental parameters in order to establish the regulation required to reach a long-term stability of order 1 10(exp -16).

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 2007
Accession Number
ADA477304

Entities

People

  • Christopher R. Ekstrom
  • Scott Crane
  • Steven Peil
  • Thomas B. Swanson

Organizations

  • United States Naval Observatory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Atomic Beam Masers
  • Atomic Clocks
  • Blackbody Radiation
  • Clocks
  • Elements
  • Frequency
  • Frequency Shift
  • Frequency Synthesizers
  • Laser Beams
  • Lasers
  • Magnetic Fields
  • Magneto Optical Traps
  • Masers
  • Measurement
  • Microwaves
  • Rubidium
  • Standards

Readers

  • Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) Technology.