Cold-atom clock based on a diffractive optic

Clocks based on cold atoms offer unbeatable accuracy and long-term stability, but their use in portable quantum technologies is hampered by a large physical footprint. Here, we use the compact optical layout of a grating magneto-optical trap (gMOT) for a precise frequency reference. The gMOT collect...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Optics express 2019-12, Vol.27 (26), p.38359-38366
Main Authors: Elvin, R, Hoth, G W, Wright, M, Lewis, B, McGilligan, J P, Arnold, A S, Griffin, P F, Riis, E
Format: Article
Language:English
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Clocks based on cold atoms offer unbeatable accuracy and long-term stability, but their use in portable quantum technologies is hampered by a large physical footprint. Here, we use the compact optical layout of a grating magneto-optical trap (gMOT) for a precise frequency reference. The gMOT collects 10 Rb atoms, which are subsequently cooled to 20 µK in optical molasses. We optically probe the microwave atomic ground-state splitting using lin⊥lin polarised coherent population trapping and a Raman-Ramsey sequence. With ballistic drop distances of only 0.5 mm, the measured short-term fractional frequency stability is 2×10 / .
ISSN:1094-4087
1094-4087
DOI:10.1364/OE.378632