Compact Frequency Standard Based on an Intra-cavity Sample Cold Cesium Atoms

TL;DR

This paper presents a compact cesium atom-based frequency standard using an intra-cavity cold atom setup, achieving high stability and narrower linewidths compared to previous free-space designs.

Contribution

It introduces a novel intra-cavity cold cesium atom approach for frequency standards, improving stability and linewidth over prior free-space methods.

Findings

Achieved a 47 Hz linewidth in Ramsey pattern

Demonstrated a stability of 5x10^-13 for over 100 seconds

Showed significant improvement over previous free-space atom standards

Abstract

We have demonstrated the possibility for a compact frequency standard based on a sample of cold cesium atoms. In a cylindrical microwave cavity, the atoms are cooled and interrogated during a free expansion and then detected. The operation of this experiment is different from conventional atomic fountains, since all the steps are sequentially performed in the same position of space. In this paper we report the analysis of a Ramsey pattern observed to present a 47 Hz linewidth and a stability of 5x10^-13 for an integration time longer than 100s. Some of the main limitations of the standard are analyzed. This present report demonstrates considerable improvement of our previous work (S. T. Muller et al, J. Opt. Soc. Am. B, v.25, p.909, 2008) where the atoms were in a free space and not inside a microwave cavity.