Stabilizing vapor-cell temperature: The isoclinic-point "atomic thermometer"

In this paper, we introduce our isoclinic-point “atomic thermometer.” Briefly, in vapor-cell atomic clocks one of the primary impediments to long-term frequency stability derives from vapor temperature fluctuations. We believe that the isoclinic-point thermometer may be a means of more accurately assessing and stabilizing temperature in these clocks. Here, we review the spectroscopic nature of the isoclinic point, and we outline its use for the thermometry of vapor-phase systems. Our results suggest that it should be possible to stabilize the temperature of these systems at the sub-mK level on a time scale of minutes.