Progress on a portable rubidium fountain frequency standard

Published

December 1, 2008

Author(s)

Paul D. Kunz, Thomas P. Heavner, Steven R. Jefferts

Abstract

We are developing a simple and transportable laser-cooled rubidium (Rb) atomic fountain frequency standard. The optical package for this system uses DFB (distributed feedback) diode lasers and a frequency offset locking scheme to generate the optical frequencies needed for laser-cooling, launching, post-cooling, and detection of Rb atoms. This atomic fountain will be useful as a transfer-standard and secondary standard for calibrating nontransportable frequency standards, as well as a measurement tool for the gravitational red-shift. Here we describe the progress made on this project, including our recent observation of a magneto-optical trap (MOT), and the anticipated performance of our transportable Rb fountain frequency standard.

Proceedings Title

Proc. 2008 PTTI Conf.

Conference Dates

December 1-5, 2008

Conference Location

Reston, VA

Pub Type

Conferences

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Keywords

atomic clock, frequency standard, laser cooling, rubidium

Citation

Kunz, P. , Heavner, T. and Jefferts, S. (2008), Progress on a portable rubidium fountain frequency standard, Proc. 2008 PTTI Conf., Reston, VA, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=901230 (Accessed October 30, 2025)