Title :
Improvement of the first CS fountain clock, FO1
Author :
Rosenbusch, P. ; Vian, C. ; Zhang, S. ; Santarelli, G. ; Clairon, A. ; Salomon, C.
Author_Institution :
BNM-SYRTE, Obs. de Paris, Paris
Abstract :
To date atomic fountain clocks using laser cooled Cs atoms prove to be the most accurate frequency standards. Among the three set-ups at BNM-SYRTE, the historically first Cs fountain clock, FO1, has recently undergone substantial changes. The cold atom preparation and selection have been rebuilt. Selection of the F = 3, mF = 0 state can be carried out by adiabatic passage allowing the preparation of 100% or 50% of the atom density with a precision of 10-3. Thereby, we can quantify the collisional frequency shift at a level of 10-16. Furthermore, a cryogenic sapphire oscillator is used for the synthesis of the microwave interrogation signal. With these improvements FO1 is currently operating at a stability of 2.8 x 10-14s-1/2 and an accuracy of a few 10-16.
Keywords :
atom-photon collisions; atomic clocks; caesium; cryogenics; frequency standards; laser cooling; microwave oscillators; sapphire; Al2O3; Cs; Cs fountain clock; adiabatic passage; atom density; atomic fountain clocks; cold atom; collisional frequency shift; cryogenic sapphire oscillator; laser cooling; microwave interrogation signal;
Conference_Titel :
Frequency and Time Forum, 2004. EFTF 2004. 18th European
Conference_Location :
Guildford
Print_ISBN :
0-86341-384-6