Prospects for Ultra-Stable Timekeeping with Sealed Vacuum Operation in Multi-Pole Linear Ion Trap Standards

Abstract

A recent long-term comparison between the compensated multi-pole Linear Ion Trap Standard (LITS) and the laser-cooled primary standards via GPS carrier-phase time transfer showed a deviation of less than 2.7x10(-17)/day. A subsequent evaluation of potential drift contributors in the LITS showed that the leading candidates are fluctuations in background gases and the neon buffer gas. The current vacuum system employs a "flow-through" turbo-molecular pump and a diaphragm fore-pump. Here, we consider the viability of a "sealed" vacuum system pumped by a non-evaporable getter for long-term ultra-stable clock operation. Initial tests suggest that both further stability improvement and longer mean-time-between-maintenance can be achieved using this approach.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 01, 2007
Accession Number
ADA483374

Entities

People

  • E. A. Burt
  • R. L. Tjoelker

Organizations

  • California Institute of Technology

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Clocks
  • Doppler Effect
  • Frequency
  • Frequency Shift
  • Frequency Standards
  • Ion Pumps
  • Ion Traps
  • Ionization Gages
  • Jet Propulsion
  • Maintenance
  • Measurement
  • Partial Pressure
  • Skeletal Muscle
  • Standards
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Time Intervals
  • Vacuum

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Electrical Engineering
  • Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) Technology.
  • Pulsed Power and Plasma Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster