Method of minimizing the short-term frequency instability of laser-pumped atomic clocks

US6831522B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Commerce · US

Inventors

• John Kitching · Boulder, US
• Leo Hollberg · Boulder, US
• Robert Wynands · Hannover, DE
• Svenja Knappe · Boulder, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 20, 2002
• Grant date: Dec 14, 2004
• Expiry date: Jul 11, 2023

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H03L7/26
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A method is provided for optimizing the performance of laser-pumped atomic frequency references with respect to the laser detuning and other operating parameters. This method is based on the new understanding that the frequency references short-term instability is minimized when (a) the laser frequency is tuned nominally a few tens of MHz away from the center of the atomic absorption line, and (b) the external oscillator lock modulation frequency is set either far below or far above the inverse of the optical pumping time of the atoms.