Progress on a Portable Rubidium Fountain Frequency Standard
Abstract
We are developing a simple and transportable laser-cooled rubidium (Rb) atomic fountain frequency standard. The optical package for this system uses DFB (distributed feedback) diode lasers and a frequency offset locking scheme to generate the optical frequencies needed for laser-cooling, launching, post-cooling, and detection of Rb atoms. This atomic fountain will be useful as a transfer standard and secondary standard for calibrating nontransportable frequency standards, as well as a measurement tool for the gravitational redshift. Here, we describe the progress made on this project, including our recent observation of a magnetooptical trap (MOT), and the anticipated performance of our transportable Rb fountain frequency standard.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA503336
Entities
People
- P. D. Kunz
- Steven R. Jefferts
- T. P. Heavner
Organizations
- National Institute of Standards and Technology