A Portable Rubidium Fountain

Abstract

We are developing a transportable laser-cooled rubidium (Rb) atomic fountain frequency standard. Over the last year, we have built the Ramsey cavity and rubidium source oven and are preparing to assemble the physics package. We have also made numerous refinements to the laser package, including transitioning to a new style of laser diode, vastly improving the optical phase-locked loops (OPLL), and improving the optical spatial mode to get more power out of the optical fibers. These refinements have enabled the laser cooling to collect many more atoms, which will improve the fountain s signal-to-noise ratio.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 01, 2010
Accession Number
ADA637338

Entities

People

  • P. D. Kunz
  • Steven R. Jefferts
  • T. P. Heavner

Organizations

  • National Institute of Standards and Technology

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Chambers
  • Circuit Boards
  • Cooling
  • Detection
  • Detectors
  • Distributed Bragg Reflectors
  • Frequency
  • Frequency Standards
  • Laser Cooling
  • Laser Diodes
  • Lasers
  • Printed Circuit Boards
  • Printed Circuits
  • Radio Frequency
  • Rubidium
  • Standards
  • Time Intervals

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Optical Physics and Photonics.
  • Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) Technology.
  • Software Engineering

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy