Recent improvements on the atomic fountain clock at SIOM

We report the recent advance in our rubidium atomic fountain clock(AFC). The parameters of the Ramsey cavity are optimized by balancing the coupling from the two ports. The temperature control system of the Ramsey interaction region is renovated, and the resonant temperature of the Ramsey cavity is regulated to be slightly above the room temperature.The quality of magnetic environment in the Ramsey interaction region is also improved. A new digital-to-analog converter(DAC) circuit that controls the local oscillator is adopted to decrease the noise of the oven-controlled crystal oscillator output. As a result, the short-term fractional frequency stability of 2.7 × 10-13-1/2τand the long-term fractional frequency stability of 1.6 × 10-15 at the average time of 32800 s are achieved.     

Recent improvements on the pulsed optically pumped rubidium clock at SIOM

We report the recent progress of our pulsed optically pumped(POP) vapor cell rubidium clock with dispersive detection.A new compact physics package is made.A rubidium cell with a high precision buffer gases mixing ratio is obtained,and the temperature controlling system is renovated to reduce fractional frequency sensitivity to temperature variation.The resolution of the servo control voltage is also optimized.With these improvements,a clock frequency stability of 3.53×10~(-13) at 1s is obtained,and a fractional frequency stability of 4.91×10~(-15) is achieved at an average time of τ=2000 s.     

Miniaturized optical system for atomic fountain clock

Using modularized components, we have built a miniaturized optical system for 87Rb atomic fountain clock that is fitted on an 80 cm × 60 cm optical breadboard. Compared with the conventional optical setup on the table, our system is more compact, more robust and miniaturized. Taking advantage of this system, laser beams are transmitted through eight optical fibre patch cords from the optical breadboard to an ultra high vacuum system. This optical setup has operated for five months in our fountain system and required no alignment.     

Collisional shifts in an optical-lattice atomic clock

The effects of elastic collisions in optical-lattice atomic clocks are analyzed. Calculations are presented using a separated oscillatory fields clock arrangement. The interactions of atoms in multiply occupied lattice sites cause a linear frequency shift, and also generate asymmetric Ramsey fringe patterns, both complicate the determination of the resonance frequency and reduce the fringe visibility due to interparticle entanglement. A method of reducing these collisional effects in an optical lattice clock containing bosonic atoms by introducing a phase difference of π between the Ramsey driving fields in adjacent sites is developed. This configuration suppresses site-to-site hopping due to the interference of two tunneling pathways, without degrading the fringe visibility. The probability of double occupancy is, thereby, reduced and collisional shifts are, thus, ameliorated.     

Proposal of a dual-ball atomic fountain clock

A simple improved structure is designed to trap and launch two cold atomic balls vertically at the same time,which works like"two fountains",but is more compact since most components of the"two fountains" are shared.It is expected to improve the stability of the fountain markedly.     

A permanent Zeeman slower for Sr atomic clock

A new type of transverse Zeeman slower composed of an array of compactdiscrete neodymium magnets is described. A simple and precisemodel of such a slower based on magnetic dipoles is developed.The design of such a slower for Sr atoms is presented.The slower needs no high currents or water cooling and the spatial distribution of itsmagnetic field can be adjusted in situ. Such a slower would be ideal fortransportable optical atomic clocks and their future applicationsin space physics.     

Integrated physics package of a chip-scale atomic clock

The physics package of a chip-scale atomic clock （CSAC） has been successfully realized by integrating vertical cavity surface emitting laser （VCSEL）, neutral density （ND） filter, λ/4 wave plate, 87Rb vapor cell, photodiode （PD）, and magnetic coil into a cuboid metal package with a volume of about 2.8 cm3. In this physics package, the critical component, 87Rb vapor cell, is batch-fabricated based on MEMS technology and in-situ chemical reaction method. Pt heater and thermistors are integrated in the physics package. A PTFE pillar is used to support the optical elements in the physics package, in order to reduce the power dissipation. The optical absorption spectrum of 87Rb D1 line and the microwave frequency correction signal are successfully observed while connecting the package with the servo circuit system. Using the above mentioned packaging solution, a CSAC with short-term frequency stability of about 7 × 10^-10τ-1/2 has been successfully achieved, which demonstrates that this physics package would become one promising solution for the CSAC.     

Satellite virtual atomic clock with pseudorange difference function

Satellite atomic clocks are the basis of GPS for the control of time and frequency of navigation signals. In the Chinese Area Positioning System (CAPS), a satellite navigation system without the satellite atomic clocks onboard is successfully developed. Thus, the method of time synchronization based on satellite atomic clocks in GPS is not suitable. Satellite virtual atomic clocks are used to implement satellite navigation. With the satellite virtual atomic clocks, the time at which the signals are transmitted from the ground can be delayed into the time that the signals are transmitted from the satellites and the pseudorange measuring can be fulfilled as in GPS. Satellite virtual atomic clocks can implement the navigation, make a pseudorange difference, remove the ephemeris error, and improve the accuracy of navigation positioning. They not only provide a navigation system without satellite clocks, but also a navigation system with pseudorange difference. Supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2007CB815502) and the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2007AA12Z300)     

Residual frequency drift in an atomic fountain clock

We report a locking mode in which the local oscillator(LO) is locked to an atomic fountain and calibration of the residual frequency drift(RFD). In this running mode, the locked LO outputs a standard frequency signal, and a short-term fractional frequency stability of 2.7 × 10-13τ-1∕2is achieved. Due to the frequency drift of the LO in free running mode, a systematic frequency bias, or RFD, exists after being locked by the atomic fountain. We analyze and measure the RFD with a value of-3e2T × 10-16. A sectionalized post-process method is adopted to calibrate the RFD.     

Development of the quantum discriminator for compact atomic clock

In the Laboratory of Frequency Standards, Quantum Radiophysics Division, Lebedev Physical Institute, a compact atomic standard of frequency and time is being developed. The results of this study make it possible to achieve a narrower metrological resonance of coherent population trapping (CPT) than in developed foreign analogues of compact atomic clocks, which will have a direct effect on the standard stability. The effect of the combination of buffer gas and antirelaxation coating on the CPT amplitude and resonance width are studied; parameters of short-cavity diode lasers (SCDLs) specially developed in collaboration with the Polyus Research and Development Institute are studied. A prototype of the compact physical discriminator for the atomic clock is developed and assembled. The dark width of the metrological resonance in the discriminator is less than 1 kHz, which theoretically implies the development of a compact atomic clock with a stability (Allan parameter) no worse than 3 · 10⁻¹² per hour.     

用于铯芯片级原子钟的4.596 GHz射频源研制

芯片级原子钟主要包括射频模块、物理封装模块以及其他的外围控制模块。射频模块的设计关系到芯片级原子钟的短期稳定度,所以射频模块在芯片级原子钟的设计时是非常重要的一部分。本文利用数字锁相环技术实现频率为4.596 GHz的射频源,射频源由三部分组成,包括小数分频频率综合器、压控振荡器和环路滤波器。数字锁相环具有相位噪声低,频谱稳定度高等特点。此外,由于小数分频频率综合器是可编程的,可以通过配置N分频器与R分频器实现输出频率的快速扫描。与此同时,根据相关公式,可以计算出三阶无源环路滤波器的近似参数值,所设计的环路滤波器具有300 kHz的环路带宽以及55的相位裕度。最后,整个基于数字锁相环技术实现的射频源通过仿真、硬件实现以及测试。测试结果显示,射频源的相位噪声为-74.02 dBc/Hz@300 Hz,符合芯片级原子钟射频源的设计要求。     

High-accuracy measurement of atomic polarizability in an optical lattice clock

Presently, the Stark effect contributes the largest source of uncertainty in a ytterbium optical atomic clock through blackbody radiation. By employing an ultracold, trapped atomic ensemble and high stability optical clock, we characterize the quadratic Stark effect with unprecedented precision. We report the ytterbium optical clock's sensitivity to electric fields (such as blackbody radiation) as the differential static polarizability of the ground and excited clock levels α(clock) = 36.2612(7) kHz?(kV/cm)(-2). The clock's uncertainty due to room temperature blackbody radiation is reduced by an order of magnitude to 3×10(-17).     

Delta electrons: An atomic clock for deep inelastic collisions

We calculate the δ-electron distribution resulting from heavy ion collisions with projectile energies above the Coulomb barrier. It is shown that the life time (Δτ?10^?21s) of superheavy composite systems causes pronounced oscillations in the electron spectrum. The width of the oscillations is found to be ΔE=h/Δτ. This effect can be used to measure nuclear sticking times quite accurately.     

用于铯芯片级原子钟的4.596 GHz射频源研制

芯片级原子钟主要包括射频模块、物理封装模块以及其他的外围控制模块。射频模块的设计关系到芯片级原子钟的短期稳定度,所以射频模块在芯片级原子钟的设计时是非常重要的一部分。本文利用数字锁相环技术实现频率为4.596 GHz的射频源,射频源由三部分组成,包括小数分频频率综合器、压控振荡器和环路滤波器。数字锁相环具有相位噪声低,频谱稳定度高等特点。此外,由于小数分频频率综合器是可编程的,可以通过配置N分频器与R分频器实现输出频率的快速扫描。与此同时,根据相关公式,可以计算出三阶无源环路滤波器的近似参数值,所设计的环路滤波器具有300 kHz的环路带宽以及55的相位裕度。最后,整个基于数字锁相环技术实现的射频源通过仿真、硬件实现以及测试。测试结果显示,射频源的相位噪声为-74.02 dBc/Hz@300 Hz,符合芯片级原子钟射频源的设计要求。     

Optical lattice induced light shifts in an yb atomic clock

We present an experimental study of the lattice-induced light shifts on the (1)S(0) --> (3)P(0) optical clock transition (nu(clock) approximately 518 THz) in neutral ytterbium. The "magic" frequency nu(magic) for the 174Yb isotope was determined to be 394 799 475(35) MHz, which leads to a first order light shift uncertainty of 0.38 Hz. We also investigated the hyperpolarizability shifts due to the nearby 6s6p(3)P(0) --> 6s8p(3)P(0), 6s8p(3)P(2), and 6s5f(3)F(2) two-photon resonances at 759.708, 754.23, and 764.95 nm, respectively. By measuring the corresponding clock transition shifts near these two-photon resonances, the hyperpolarizability shift was estimated to be 170(33) mHz for a linear polarized, 50 microK deep, lattice at the magic wavelength. These results indicate that the differential polarizability and hyperpolarizability frequency shift uncertainties in a Yb lattice clock could be held to well below 10(-17).     

Optical lattice polarization effects on hyperpolarizability of atomic clock transitions

The light-induced frequency shift due to hyperpolarizability (i.e., terms of second-order in intensity) is studied for a forbidden optical transition, J = 0 --> J = 0. A simple universal dependence on the field ellipticity is obtained. This result allows minimization of the second-order light shift with respect to the field polarization for optical lattices operating at a magic wavelength (at which the first-order shift vanishes). We show the possibility for the existence of a magic elliptical polarization, for which the second-order frequency shift vanishes. The optimal polarization of the lattice field can be either linear, circular, or magic elliptical. The obtained results could improve the accuracy of lattice-based atomic clocks.     

原子力显微术研究进展

原子力显微术是微纳米尺度实空间形貌成像与结构表征的关键技术之一。近些年,原子力显微术衍生发展出了一系列令人瞩目的功能化探测模式和新技术。文章从以下两个方面论述了原子力显微术的前沿进展：(1)原子力显微术的功能化探测模式及其在微纳米尺度物性研究与测量以及微纳加工等领域的应用;(2)原子力显微术自身在更高精度、更高分辨率、更快速度、更多功能等方面的进展及在基础和应用研究领域中的应用。文章还展望了原子力显微术的下一步发展方向和正在不断扩展的研究领域。     

Frequency shifts in a cesium atomic clock due to Majorana transitions

This paper deals with a theoretical model which describes the effect of Majorana transitions on the frequency of a cesium atomic clock. In contrast to the explanations given in the past, the phase correlation between the individual successive excitations in inhomogeneous magnetic fields and the microwave resonator are for the first time taken into account. The π transitions with the selection rule ΔF = 1, Δm = ± 1 are of particular importance. The theory allows experimental results obtained in the past with the CSX apparatus, in particular the large frequency shifts observed, to be interpreted. The effect on the determination of the uncertainty of primary atomic clocks will be discussed.     

Ultrastable cesium atomic clock with a 9.1926-GHz regeneratively mode-locked fiber laser

We describe an ultrastable cesium (Cs) atomic clock with a 9.1926-GHz regeneratively mode-locked fiber laser obtained by use of an optically pumped Cs beam tube. By adopting a 1-m-long Cs beam tube with a linewidth of 110 Hz, we have successfully obtained frequency stabilities of 4.8 x 10(-12) for tau = 1 s and 6.3 x 10(-13) for tau = 50 s for a 9.1926-GHz microwave output signal. This Cs atomic clock can generate an optical pulse train with the same stability as that of the obtained microwave, which allows us to deliver a frequency standard optical signal throughout the world by means of optical fiber networks.