Power Dependence of Distributed Cavity Phase-Induced Frequency Biases in Atomic Fountain Standards

Published

December 1, 2005

Author(s)

Steven R. Jefferts, Jon H. Shirley, Eric A. Burt, G J. Dick, Neil Ashby

Abstract

We discuss the implications of using high-power microwave tests in a fountain frequency standard to measure the frequency bias resulting from distributed cavity phase shifts. We develop a theory below that shows that the frequency bias from distributed cavity phase depends on the amplitude of the microwave field within the cavity. The dependence leads to the conclusion that the frequency bias associated with the distributed cavity phase is typically both mis-estimated and counted twice within the error budget of fountain frequency standards.

Citation

IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control

Volume

52

Issue

12

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

Local Download

Keywords

atomic clocks, fountain frequency standards, primary frequency standards

Citation

Jefferts, S. , Shirley, J. , Burt, E. , Dick, G. and Ashby, N. (2005), Power Dependence of Distributed Cavity Phase-Induced Frequency Biases in Atomic Fountain Standards, IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=50069 (Accessed October 27, 2025)