Small cold atomic clock device and method for time keeping system

Abstract

The invention discloses a small cold atomic clock device and method for a time keeping system. A two-dimensional magneto-optical trap is arranged in the atomic beam emitting direction of an atomic furnace; an atomic beam emitted from the two-dimensional magneto-optical trap enters a three-dimensional magneto-optical trap through a collimating device; a magnetron microwave cavity is placed in the three-dimensional magneto-optical trap; after cold atom preparation, atomic groups enter the magnetron microwave cavity under the action of gravity; atomic groups pass through the magnetron microwave cavity and then enter an annular microwave cavity; atoms passing through the annular microwave cavity enter a population detection device; the population detection device is connected with an ion pump,the ion pump maintains the vacuum environment of the whole system, three layers of magnetic shielding cylinders made of permalloy materials are sequentially arranged outside the system, an optical shutter is further arranged between the three-dimensional magneto-optical trap and the annular microwave cavity, and cold atom loading and microwave excitation processes are allowed to be implemented inparallel. The cold atomic clock device has the advantages of compact structure, short working period and the like, and the cost and size of the cold atomic clock can be remarkably reduced.

Description

technical field [0001] The invention belongs to the technical field of atomic clocks, and in particular relates to a small cold atomic clock device and method for a time keeping system. Background technique [0002] Time plays an important role in national production, and the generation and maintenance of UTC requires the punctual atomic clock to have low drift rate, high stability and long-term operation capability. Using laser cooling technology, the temperature of the particles is cooled to close to absolute zero, allowing more accurate measurement of the reference frequency, and obtaining a more stable and accurate time-frequency signal. The drift rate of the small cold atomic clock is about an order of magnitude smaller than that of the active hydrogen clock, and it has the characteristics of transportability and long-term operation, so it has certain application value in timekeeping systems. [0003] In 1997, the European Space Agency announced the start of the space ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

The above-mentioned cold atomic clock has the following disadvantages: 1. The atomic clock has a long duty cycle (> 1s), which makes the phase noise of the local oscillator become the main factor limiting the short-term stability of the atomic clock; 2. The size of the above-mentioned cold atomic clock system is large, and the physical system length exceeds 1 Meter

3. The two-dimensional magneto-optical trap is not used to generate slow atomic beams, and the atomic loading rate is low

4. For the design of space microgravity environment, it is necessary to use optical methods to eject atoms, which increases the complexity of the optical system and working sequence

Images