Exploration of the Potential Performance of Diode Laser Pumped Gas Cell Atomic Frequency Standards

Abstract

Recently, there has been considerable interest in the use of single-mode diode lasers in atomic frequency standards. In the present paper theoretical calculations are performed in order to quantify the expected performance improvement upon incorporation of diode lasers in rubidium gas cell atomic frequency standards. We assume that clock signal shot noise, the diode laser's quantum noise and diode laser frequency locking noise all contribute to the atomic frequency standard's stability. Our results indicate that white noise Allan variances of approx. 6x10_-15) / square root of tau are possible if enhanced cavity Q diode lasers are employed, whereas for presently available commercial diode lasers we predict white noise Allan variances of 3x10(-14) / square root of tau. These variances represent a 2-3 orders of magnitude improvement in frequency stability over that currently obtained with rubidium gas cell atomic clocks.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1985
Accession Number
ADA494944

Entities

People

  • James C. Camparo
  • Robert P. Frueholz

Organizations

  • The Aerospace Corporation

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Cells
  • Cellular Structures
  • Clocks
  • Frequency
  • Frequency Standards
  • Gas Cells
  • Information Operations
  • Laser Diodes
  • Lasers
  • Microwaves
  • Physics Laboratories
  • Resonance
  • Standards
  • Time Intervals
  • Unmanned Ground Systems

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Approximation Theory.
  • Optical Physics and Photonics.
  • Quantum spin resonance or Electron Paramagnetic Resonance spectroscopy.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Directed Energy - Lasers
  • Quantum Computing