Design and metrological features of microwave synthesizers for atomic fountain frequency standard

Author

Chambon, Damien ; Lours, Michel ; Chapelet, Frederic ; Bize, Sebastien ; Tobar, Michael E. ; Clairon, Andre ; Santarelli, Giorgio

Author_Institution

Lab. Nat. d´´Essais-Systemes de Reference Temps-Espace, Obs. de Paris

Volume

54

Issue

4

fYear

2007

fDate

4/1/2007 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

729

Lastpage

735

Abstract

In this paper we describe the improved redesign of the microwave frequency synthesizers for Laboratoire National d´Essais-Systemes de Reference Temps-Espace (LNE-SYRTE) atomic fountains. The synthesizers use a cryogenic oscillator to generate both Cs and Rb hyperfine frequencies based on a new distribution frequency of 1 GHz. The main metrological features (phase noise, long-term phase stability, and spectral purity) of the synthesizers have been measured in situ connected to an atomic fountain and are compatible with an accuracy goal of 10^-16 for the atomic fountains. The simultaneous test of two different synthesizers on the FO2 atomic fountain at the 10^-16 level also is reported

Keywords

atomic clocks; caesium; cryogenic electronics; frequency standards; hyperfine structure; rubidium; Cs; Rb; atomic fountain; cryogenic oscillator; frequency standard; hyperfine frequencies; microwave synthesizers; Atomic measurements; Cryogenics; Frequency synthesizers; Microwave frequencies; Microwave oscillators; Noise measurement; Phase measurement; Phase noise; Stability; Testing;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics, and Frequency Control, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0885-3010

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TUFFC.2007.306

Filename

4154633