A high stability optical frequency reference based on thermal calcium atoms

Abstract

Here we report an imprecision below 10-14 with a simple, compact optical frequency standard based upon thermal calcium atoms. Using a Ramsey-Bord spectrometer we excite features with linewidths less than 5 kHz for the 1S0-3P1 intercombination line at 657 nm. We have measured a fractional frequency instability below 6 x 10-15 at 1 s, with good prospects for still quieter performance. The key remaining issue for this standard is how well first- and secondorder Doppler drifts can be suppressed. Due to its experimental simplicity such a system could find application as a less accurate, but high stability reference for commercial applications.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 21, 2011
Accession Number
ADA633809

Entities

People

  • A. D. Ludlow
  • C. W. Oates
  • J. A. Sherman
  • J. B. Olson
  • R. W. Fox
  • W. Douglas

Organizations

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acousto-Optic Modulators
  • Atomic Clocks
  • Clocks
  • Doppler Effect
  • Excitation
  • Frequency
  • Frequency Standards
  • Governments
  • High Resolution
  • Instability
  • Lasers
  • Modulation
  • Noise
  • Numbers
  • Spectroscopy
  • Standards
  • Transitions

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) Technology.
  • Quantum spin resonance or Electron Paramagnetic Resonance spectroscopy.
  • Spectroscopy.