Demonstrating a Magic Interrogation Approach for a Two-Photon Atomic Clock
Abstract
There has long been a need for high quality timing in military applications – the most well-known application is connected to navigation. Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) (of which Global Positioning System (GPS) is the prime example) make use of high-quality clocks on satellites to provide positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) to assets in the field. In response to the need for improved PNT information in the field, there is a strong motivation to develop improved GNSS clocks. In parallel, there is a drive to develop independent navigation systems that do not depend on GNSS signal reception. Adaptable Navigation Systems provide local navigation signals that are immune to GNSS vulnerabilities such as intentional jamming/spoofing. To answer both needs, small size, weight and power (SWaP) clocks are required with higher performance than existing clocks. One promising approach lies in the use of simple and compact atomic vapour clocks that use two-photon optical transitions for excitation and probing. However, atomic clocks based on two-photon transitions are well-known to suffer large light shifts that lead to unwanted long-term drifts and timing instability. This project will investigate innovative methods to provide intrinsic light-shift cancellation by judicious tuning of the powers and wavelengths of the probing laser sources into a “magic� configuration.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Oct 20, 2022
- Source ID
- FA23861914054
Entities
People
- Andre Luiten
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- United States Air Force
- University of Adelaide