The caesium atomic fountain clock is a primary frequency standard.During its operation,a Majorana transition frequency shift will occur once a magnetic field at some special locations along the atomic trajectory is si...The caesium atomic fountain clock is a primary frequency standard.During its operation,a Majorana transition frequency shift will occur once a magnetic field at some special locations along the atomic trajectory is singular.In this study,by developing a physical model,we analyzed the magnetic field requirements for atomic adiabatic transition and calculated the influence of the Majorana atomic transition on the atomic state via a quantum method.Based on the simulation results for the magnetic field in the fountain clock,we applied the Monte Carlo method to simulate the relationship between the Majorana transition frequency shift and the magnetic field at the entrance of the magnetic shielding,as well as the initial atomic population.Measurement of the Majorana transition frequency shift was realized by state-selecting asymmetrically populated atoms.The relationship between the Majorana transition frequency shift and the axial magnetic field at the entrance of the magnetic shielding was obtained.The measured results were essentially consistent with the calculated results.Thus,the magnetic field at the entrance of the magnetic shielding was configured,and the Majorana transition frequency shift of the fountain clock was calculated to be 4.57×10^(-18).展开更多
We designed, assembled, and tested a reliable laser system for ^(87)Rb cold atom fountain clocks. The laser system is divided into four modules according to function, which are convenient for installing, adjusting, ma...We designed, assembled, and tested a reliable laser system for ^(87)Rb cold atom fountain clocks. The laser system is divided into four modules according to function, which are convenient for installing, adjusting, maintaining, and replacing of the modules. In each functional module, all optical components are fixed on a baseplate with glue and screws, ensuring the system's structural stability. Mechanical stability was verified in a 6.11g RMS randomvibration test, where the change in output power before and after vibration was less than 5%. Thermal stability was realized by optimizing of the structure and appropriate selection of component materials of the modules through thermal simulation. In the laser splitting and output module, the change in laser power was less than 20% for each fiber in thermal cycles from 5℃ to 43℃. Finally,the functionality of the laser system was verified for a rubidium fountain clock.展开更多
Cold atom clocks have made remarkable progresses in the last two decades and played critical roles in precision measurements. Primary Cs fountain frequency standards have achieved a total uncertainty of a few parts in...Cold atom clocks have made remarkable progresses in the last two decades and played critical roles in precision measurements. Primary Cs fountain frequency standards have achieved a total uncertainty of a few parts in 1016, and the best optical clock has reached a type B uncertainty below 10-18. Besides applications in the metrology, navigation, etc.,ultra-stable and ultra-accurate atomic clocks have also become powerful tools in the basic scientific investigations. In this paper, we focus on the recent developments in the high-performance cold atomic clocks which can be used as frequency standards to calibrate atomic time scales. The basic principles, performances, and limitations of fountain clocks and optical clocks based on signal trapped ion or neutral atoms are summarized. Their applications in metrology and other areas are briefly introduced.展开更多
A fold optical path is utilized to capture and launch atoms in the atomic fountain. This improved technique reduces the laser power needed by 60 percent, facilitates suppression of the laser power fluctuations, and le...A fold optical path is utilized to capture and launch atoms in the atomic fountain. This improved technique reduces the laser power needed by 60 percent, facilitates suppression of the laser power fluctuations, and leads to a more simple and stable system.展开更多
Caesium atomic fountain clock is a primary frequency standard,which realizes the duration of second.Its performance is mostly dominated by the frequency accuracy,and the C-field induced second-order Zeeman frequency s...Caesium atomic fountain clock is a primary frequency standard,which realizes the duration of second.Its performance is mostly dominated by the frequency accuracy,and the C-field induced second-order Zeeman frequency shift is the major effect,which limits the accuracy improvement.By applying a high-precision current supply and high-performance magnetic shieldings,the C-field stability has been improved significantly.In order to achieve a uniform C-field,this paper proposes a doubly wound C-field solenoid,which compensates the radial magnetic field along the atomic flight region generated by the lead-out single wire and improves the accuracy evaluation of second-order Zeeman frequency shift.Based on the stable and uniform C-field,we launch the selected atoms to different heights and record the magnetically sensitive Ramsey transition|F=3,mF=-1→|F=4,mF=-1 central frequency,obtaining this frequency shift as 131.03×10^(-15)and constructing the C-field profile(σ=0.15 n T).Meanwhile,during normal operation,we lock NTSC-F2 to the central frequency of the magnetically sensitive Ramsey transition|F=3,mF=-1→|F=4,mF=-1 fringe for ten consecutive days and record this frequency fluctuation in time domain.The first evaluation of second-order Zeeman frequency shift uncertainty is 0.10×10^(-15).The total deviation of the frequency fluctuation on the clock transition induced by the C-field instability is less than 2.6×10^(-17).Compared with NTSC-F1,NTSC-F2,there appears a significant improvement.展开更多
We propose and realize a new optical state selection method on a cesium atomic fountain clock by applying a two-laser 3-3'optical pumping configuration to spin polarize atoms.The atoms are prepared in|F=3,mF=0>...We propose and realize a new optical state selection method on a cesium atomic fountain clock by applying a two-laser 3-3'optical pumping configuration to spin polarize atoms.The atoms are prepared in|F=3,mF=0>clock state with optical pumping directly after being launched up,followed by a pushing beam to push away the atoms remaining in the|F=4>state.With a state selection efficiency exceeding 92%,this optical method can substitute the traditional microwave state selection,and helps to develop a more compact physical package.A Ramsey fringe has been achieved with this optical state selection method,and a contrast of 90%is obtained with a full width half maximum of 0.92 Hz.The short-term frequency stability of 6.8×10^(-14)(τ/s)^(-1/2) is acquired.In addition,the number of detected atoms is increased by a factor of 1.7 with the optical state selection.展开更多
To improve the signal to noise ratio(SNR)and the short-term stability of cesium atomic fountain clocks,the work of two-laser optical pumping is presented theoretically and experimentally.The short-term stability of th...To improve the signal to noise ratio(SNR)and the short-term stability of cesium atomic fountain clocks,the work of two-laser optical pumping is presented theoretically and experimentally.The short-term stability of the NIM6 fountain clock has been improved by preparing more cold atoms in the|F=4,m_(F)=0>clock state with a shortened cycle time.Two π-polarized laser beams overlapped in the horizontal plane have been applied after launching,one is resonant with|F=4>→|F′=4>transition and the other is resonant with|F=3>→|F′=4>transition.With optical pumping,the population accumulated in the|m_(F)=0>clock state is improved from 11%to 63%,and the detection signal is increased by a factor of 4.2,the SNR of the clock transition probability and the short-term stability are also improved accordingly.展开更多
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.12173044)Research and Development Project of Scientific Research Instruments and Equipment of Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.YJKYYQ20200020)+1 种基金Large Research Infrastructures Improvement Funds of Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.DSS-WXGZ-2020-0005)Chinese Academy of Sciences for Western Young Scholars(Grant Nos.XAB2018A06,XAB2019A07,and XAB2018B16)。
文摘The caesium atomic fountain clock is a primary frequency standard.During its operation,a Majorana transition frequency shift will occur once a magnetic field at some special locations along the atomic trajectory is singular.In this study,by developing a physical model,we analyzed the magnetic field requirements for atomic adiabatic transition and calculated the influence of the Majorana atomic transition on the atomic state via a quantum method.Based on the simulation results for the magnetic field in the fountain clock,we applied the Monte Carlo method to simulate the relationship between the Majorana transition frequency shift and the magnetic field at the entrance of the magnetic shielding,as well as the initial atomic population.Measurement of the Majorana transition frequency shift was realized by state-selecting asymmetrically populated atoms.The relationship between the Majorana transition frequency shift and the axial magnetic field at the entrance of the magnetic shielding was obtained.The measured results were essentially consistent with the calculated results.Thus,the magnetic field at the entrance of the magnetic shielding was configured,and the Majorana transition frequency shift of the fountain clock was calculated to be 4.57×10^(-18).
文摘We designed, assembled, and tested a reliable laser system for ^(87)Rb cold atom fountain clocks. The laser system is divided into four modules according to function, which are convenient for installing, adjusting, maintaining, and replacing of the modules. In each functional module, all optical components are fixed on a baseplate with glue and screws, ensuring the system's structural stability. Mechanical stability was verified in a 6.11g RMS randomvibration test, where the change in output power before and after vibration was less than 5%. Thermal stability was realized by optimizing of the structure and appropriate selection of component materials of the modules through thermal simulation. In the laser splitting and output module, the change in laser power was less than 20% for each fiber in thermal cycles from 5℃ to 43℃. Finally,the functionality of the laser system was verified for a rubidium fountain clock.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.11873044)the National Key Research and Development Project of China(Grant No.2016YFF0200202)Consulting Research Project of Chinese Academy of Engineering(Grant No.2018-ZCQ-03)。
文摘Cold atom clocks have made remarkable progresses in the last two decades and played critical roles in precision measurements. Primary Cs fountain frequency standards have achieved a total uncertainty of a few parts in 1016, and the best optical clock has reached a type B uncertainty below 10-18. Besides applications in the metrology, navigation, etc.,ultra-stable and ultra-accurate atomic clocks have also become powerful tools in the basic scientific investigations. In this paper, we focus on the recent developments in the high-performance cold atomic clocks which can be used as frequency standards to calibrate atomic time scales. The basic principles, performances, and limitations of fountain clocks and optical clocks based on signal trapped ion or neutral atoms are summarized. Their applications in metrology and other areas are briefly introduced.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 10974215)the Science Foundation of State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy,East China Normal University
文摘A fold optical path is utilized to capture and launch atoms in the atomic fountain. This improved technique reduces the laser power needed by 60 percent, facilitates suppression of the laser power fluctuations, and leads to a more simple and stable system.
基金the National Key R&D Program of China(Grant No.2016YFF0200202)the Maintenance and Reformation Program for the Major Science and Technology Fundamental Devices of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.DSS-WXGZ-2020-0005)the Foundation for Western Young Scholars,China(Grant No.XAB2018A06)。
文摘Caesium atomic fountain clock is a primary frequency standard,which realizes the duration of second.Its performance is mostly dominated by the frequency accuracy,and the C-field induced second-order Zeeman frequency shift is the major effect,which limits the accuracy improvement.By applying a high-precision current supply and high-performance magnetic shieldings,the C-field stability has been improved significantly.In order to achieve a uniform C-field,this paper proposes a doubly wound C-field solenoid,which compensates the radial magnetic field along the atomic flight region generated by the lead-out single wire and improves the accuracy evaluation of second-order Zeeman frequency shift.Based on the stable and uniform C-field,we launch the selected atoms to different heights and record the magnetically sensitive Ramsey transition|F=3,mF=-1→|F=4,mF=-1 central frequency,obtaining this frequency shift as 131.03×10^(-15)and constructing the C-field profile(σ=0.15 n T).Meanwhile,during normal operation,we lock NTSC-F2 to the central frequency of the magnetically sensitive Ramsey transition|F=3,mF=-1→|F=4,mF=-1 fringe for ten consecutive days and record this frequency fluctuation in time domain.The first evaluation of second-order Zeeman frequency shift uncertainty is 0.10×10^(-15).The total deviation of the frequency fluctuation on the clock transition induced by the C-field instability is less than 2.6×10^(-17).Compared with NTSC-F1,NTSC-F2,there appears a significant improvement.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.11873044).
文摘We propose and realize a new optical state selection method on a cesium atomic fountain clock by applying a two-laser 3-3'optical pumping configuration to spin polarize atoms.The atoms are prepared in|F=3,mF=0>clock state with optical pumping directly after being launched up,followed by a pushing beam to push away the atoms remaining in the|F=4>state.With a state selection efficiency exceeding 92%,this optical method can substitute the traditional microwave state selection,and helps to develop a more compact physical package.A Ramsey fringe has been achieved with this optical state selection method,and a contrast of 90%is obtained with a full width half maximum of 0.92 Hz.The short-term frequency stability of 6.8×10^(-14)(τ/s)^(-1/2) is acquired.In addition,the number of detected atoms is increased by a factor of 1.7 with the optical state selection.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.11873044).
文摘To improve the signal to noise ratio(SNR)and the short-term stability of cesium atomic fountain clocks,the work of two-laser optical pumping is presented theoretically and experimentally.The short-term stability of the NIM6 fountain clock has been improved by preparing more cold atoms in the|F=4,m_(F)=0>clock state with a shortened cycle time.Two π-polarized laser beams overlapped in the horizontal plane have been applied after launching,one is resonant with|F=4>→|F′=4>transition and the other is resonant with|F=3>→|F′=4>transition.With optical pumping,the population accumulated in the|m_(F)=0>clock state is improved from 11%to 63%,and the detection signal is increased by a factor of 4.2,the SNR of the clock transition probability and the short-term stability are also improved accordingly.
