The JPL Hg+ Extended Linear Ion Trap Frequency Standard: Status, Stability, and Accuracy Prospects

Abstract

Microwave frequency standards based on room temperature 199Hg+ ions in a Linear Ion Trap (LITS) presently achieve a signal-to-noise and line-Q-inferred short-term frequency stability of sigma sub y (tau) = 2x10E(exp -14)/tau(exp 1/2). Long-term stability has been measured for averaging intervals up to 5 months with apparent sensitivity to variations in ion number/temperature limiting the flicker floor to about 5x10E-16 at 100,000 seconds. A two-segment version of the linear ion trap (LITE) has also recently demonstrated excellent frequency stability for measurement intervals up to one week. Nearly an order of magnitude improvement in long-term stability compared to the LITS is expected since this trap configuration operates with reduced linear ion density during the microwave interrogation period.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1996
Accession Number
ADA500848

Entities

People

  • J. D. Prestage
  • L. Maleki
  • R. L. Tjoelker

Organizations

  • California Institute of Technology

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Atomic Beam Masers
  • Detection
  • Doppler Effect
  • Environmental Protection
  • Frequency
  • Frequency Shift
  • Frequency Standards
  • Ion Traps
  • Ionization Gages
  • Jet Propulsion
  • Local Oscillators
  • Magnetic Fields
  • Measurement
  • Oscillators
  • Pressure Measurement
  • Standards

Readers

  • Molecular Photonics/Laser Physics
  • Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) Technology.
  • Quantum spin resonance or Electron Paramagnetic Resonance spectroscopy.

Technology Areas

  • AI & ML
  • AI & ML - Bayesian Inference