Reduction of Magnetic-Field-Induced Shift in Quantum Frequency Standards Based on Coherent Population Trapping

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a novel application of the Pound-Drever-Hall technique to significantly reduce magnetic-field-induced frequency shifts in CPT-based atomic clocks, enhancing stability and easing shielding requirements.

Contribution

It introduces a PDH-based method to control magnetic sensitivity in CPT atomic clocks, achieving ultra-low frequency shifts and enabling better long-term stability.

Findings

Magnetic-field sensitivity reduced to approximately 3.2×10^{-13} δB^2 mG^{-2}.

The technique allows easy adjustment of optimal magnetic bias fields via modulation frequency.

Potential to improve miniature atomic clock stability beyond 10^{-12}.

Abstract

We investigate the magnetic-field-induced frequency shift (MFS) of the clock "0-0" transition in the microwave quantum frequency standard (atomic clock) based on coherent population trapping (CPT) in $^{87}$Rb vapor. To scan the CPT resonance and to form the error signal, a method analogous to the Pound-Drever-Hall (PDH) technique in the optical frequency range is employed, where the modulating frequency ($f_m$) significantly exceeds the resonance linewidth (FWHM). The experiments demonstrate that this technique offers brilliant capabilities for controlling the sensitivity of the clock transition frequency to magnetic field variations in the vapor cell compared to the conventional method with low-frequency modulation ($f_m$$\,\ll\,$FWHM). Specifically, the PDH technique provides several optimal values of the bias magnetic field generated by the solenoid, at which the "0-0" transition frequency exhibits extremely low sensitivity to small variations in the external magnetic field. Furthermore, these magnetic field values can be easily adjusted by changing $f_m$, which is relevant for optimization of the atomic clock's operating regime. The experimental results show that by using the PDH technique, the influence of MFS on the clock transition can be suppressed down to $\approx\,$$3.2$$\,\times\,$$10^{-13}$$\delta B^2$ mG$^{-2}$. These findings can be leveraged both to relax stringent requirements for magnetic field shielding in state-of-the-art CPT-based miniature atomic clocks (MACs) and to build a new generation of such clocks with long-term frequency stability better than $10^{-12}$.