Long-Term Stability Analysis Towards < 10^-14 Level for a Highly Compact POP Rb Cell Atomic Clock

Abstract

Long-term frequency instabilities in vapor-cell clocks mainly arise from fluctuations of the experimental and environmental parameters that are converted to clock frequency fluctuations via various physical processes. Here, we discuss the frequency sensitivities and the resulting stability limitations at one-day timescale for a rubidium vapor-cell clock based on a compact magnetron-type cavity operated in air (no vacuum environment). Under ambient laboratory conditions, the external atmospheric pressure fluctuations may dominantly limit the clock stability via the barometric effect. We establish a complete longterm instability budget for our clock operated under stable pressure conditions. Where possible, the fluctuations of experimental parameters are measured via the atomic response. The measured clock instability of <2 × 10 −14 at one day is limited by the intensity light-shift effect, which could further be reduced by active stabilization of the laser intensity or stronger optical pumping. The analyses reported here show the way toward simple, compact, and low-power vapor-cell atomic clocks with excellent long-term stabilities ≤10 −14 at one day when operated in ambient laboratory conditions.

Long-Term Stability Analysis Toward <10−14 Level for a Highly Compact POP Rb Cell Atomic Clock

“…We have also shown that in ambient laboratory conditions, the dominant contribution to clock instability may arise from ambient pressure fluctuations via the barometric effect [23]. A preliminary analysis of instability sources toward a complete long-term budget was presented in [19]. Here, we evaluate in detail the clock sensitivities to experimental and environmental parameter fluctuations and quantify the resulting clock stability limits on long-term timescales up to one day.…”

“…In the following, we present a detailed analysis and budget of the long-term instability for a highly compact rubidium vapor-cell clock, based on our preliminary analysis reported in [19]. The clock employs a time-domain Ramsey interrogation with laser optical detection.…”