Journals Articles Conferences News About CLP
Submit a paper Email Alert
Search
Search
Articles
Journals
News
Advanced Search
Top Searches
2D MaterialsTransformation opticsQuantum PhotonicsSmall lasersSemiconductor UV PhotonicsSupersymmetric microring laser arrays

Chinese Journal of Lasers, Volume. 51, Issue 11, 1101012(2024)

Space Cold Atomic Clock Technologies

Jingfeng Xiang1,2, Wei Ren1,2,3, Siminda Deng1,3, Liang Liu1,2,3, and Lü Desheng1,2,3、*
Author Affiliations
  • 1Aerospace Laser Technology and System Department, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China
  • 2Key Laboratory of Quantum Optics, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China
  • 3Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
    • show less
    AbstractGet PDF(in Chinese)
    Figures&Tables (25)
    Equations (0)
    References (151)
    Tools
    Paper Information
    Topics
    Figures & Tables(25)
    Schematic diagram of the operation of a cold atomic clock

    Fig. 1. Schematic diagram of the operation of a cold atomic clock

    Download full size
    Schematic diagrams of MOT[41]. (a) One dimensional explanation; (b) magnetic optical trap beam and magnetic field configuration

    Fig. 2. Schematic diagrams of MOT[41]. (a) One dimensional explanation; (b) magnetic optical trap beam and magnetic field configuration

    Download full size
    Ramsey fringes without velocity distribution, where τ=10 ms,T=500 ms

    Fig. 3. Ramsey fringes without velocity distribution, where τ=10 ms,T=500 ms

    Download full size
    Schematic of an optical atomic clock[28]

    Fig. 4. Schematic of an optical atomic clock[28]

    Download full size
    Cross section of NIST spherical cavity[92]

    Fig. 5. Cross section of NIST spherical cavity[92]

    Download full size
    Photos of NPL designed cubic cavity (left) and its installation in vacuum chamber (right)

    Fig. 6. Photos of NPL designed cubic cavity (left) and its installation in vacuum chamber (right)

    Download full size
    CACES space cold atomic clock atomic manipulation flowchart

    Fig. 7. CACES space cold atomic clock atomic manipulation flowchart

    Download full size
    Photos of CACES[102]

    Fig. 8. Photos of CACES[102]

    Download full size
    Structural model diagram of CAMiCS

    Fig. 9. Structural model diagram of CAMiCS

    Download full size
    Principle of CAMiCS

    Fig. 10. Principle of CAMiCS

    Download full size
    Physics package (left) and microwave cavity (right) of the integrating sphere cold atom clock[119]

    Fig. 11. Physics package (left) and microwave cavity (right) of the integrating sphere cold atom clock[119]

    Download full size
    Integrated spaceborne integrating sphere cold atomic clock[119]

    Fig. 12. Integrated spaceborne integrating sphere cold atomic clock[119]

    Download full size
    Structural model diagram of PHARAOs physics package[124]

    Fig. 13.

    Structural model diagram of PHARAOs physics package[124]

    Download full size
    Photo of PHARAOs optical bench[124]

    Fig. 14.

    Photo of PHARAOs optical bench[124]

    Download full size
    Photo of PHARAO flight model after integration[125]

    Fig. 15. Photo of PHARAO flight model after integration[125]

    Download full size
    Structural model diagram of PARCSs physics package[128]

    Fig. 16.

    Structural model diagram of PARCSs physics package[128]

    Download full size
    Concept diagram of RACE[134]

    Fig. 17. Concept diagram of RACE[134]

    Download full size
    Research on miniaturized optical lattice clocks of European Union for space applications. (a) The optical lattice clock (OLC) rack (the clock laser is not included)[135]; (b) laser subsystems for the strontium lattice clock[27]

    Fig. 18. Research on miniaturized optical lattice clocks of European Union for space applications. (a) The optical lattice clock (OLC) rack (the clock laser is not included)[135]; (b) laser subsystems for the strontium lattice clock[27]

    Download full size
    Progress in miniaturization of strontium atomic space optical clock on Chinese Space Station. (a) Photograph of miniaturized physical system[136]; (b) photograph of primary cooling optical system

    Fig. 19. Progress in miniaturization of strontium atomic space optical clock on Chinese Space Station. (a) Photograph of miniaturized physical system[136]; (b) photograph of primary cooling optical system

    Download full size
    Schematic of FOCOS mission[141]

    Fig. 20. Schematic of FOCOS mission[141]

    Download full size
    Possible experimental scheme of AEDGE[142]

    Fig. 21. Possible experimental scheme of AEDGE[142]

    Download full size

    • Table 1. Performance comparison of space atomic clocks

      View table

      Table 1. Performance comparison of space atomic clocks

      Atomic clockFrequency referenceFrequency stabilityFrequency drift
      Tiangong-2 CACES[22] developed by SIOMLaser-cooled 87Rb3×10-13τ1/2 (estimated)Not reported
      NASAs Space Technology Mission Deep Space Atomic Clock (DSAC)[24] developed by JPLTrapped Hg+7×10-13τ1/2 (estimated)3.0 (0.7)×10-16 day
      GPS IIF Cs Atomic Frequency reference (AFS) built by Symmetricom[25] (SVN62 Cs 1010)133Cs1.6×10-11τ1/2Not reported
      Beidou 3 Passive Hydrogen Maser (PHM)[26] developed by BIRMMH3×10-12τ1/2 (in-orbit)~4.0×10-15 day
      GPS IIF Rb AFS built by PerkinElmer[25](RFS05 life test)87Rb1.0×10-12τ1/2<7.5×10-14 year(after 2 years of continuous operation)

    • Table 2. Development progress of optical frequency combs for space applications

      View table

      Table 2. Development progress of optical frequency combs for space applications

      ProjectComb spacing /MHzAccuracy

      Frequency stability

      (ADEV)

      		Mass /kgPower /WVolume /L
      Space qualified fiber comb developed for the COMPASSO mission[77] 2025 (expected)100Not reportedNot reported7.5

      35‒55

      (depending on its operational mode)

      		6.5
      FOKUS II[75] Texus 54 sounding rocket May 2018100Inherently limited by the RF referenceInherently limited by the RF reference10667
      FOKUS I[74] Texus 51 &53 sounding rocket April 2015 & January 2016100Limited by the referencesLimited by the references22100[78](max)20
      Menlo Systems SmartComb[78]100

      2×10-16 (t>100 s, phase lock to optical reference);

      1×10-14 (t>1000 s, phase lock to RF reference)

      <7×10-16 in 1s,

      <5×10-17 in 1000s (phase lock to optical reference);

      <5×10-13 in 1 s (phase lock to RF reference)

      		17<10019″ three height unit rack-mountable

    • Table 3. Progress in the development of ultra stable lasers for space applications

      View table

      Table 3. Progress in the development of ultra stable lasers for space applications

      Ultra-stable laserFrequency stabilityHigh-finesse Fabry-Pérot cavityLinewidth /HzMass /kgPower /WVolume
      Space narrow linewidth laser[91](NTSC)3.5×10-15 at 1 s (preliminary performance evaluation results)100 mm cubic optical reference cavity4.6Not reportedNot reported340 mm×200 mm×80 mm (optics module)

      Ultra-stable clock laser for Space Optical Clock (SOC2) project[94]

      (The University of Birmingham)

      		2.5×10-15 in 1 s for the 24 hour measurement10 cm long ULE cavityNot reportedNot reportedNot reported

      60 cm×45 cm×8 cm(optics module);

      30 cm×30 cm×30 cm(ultra-stable reference cavity)

      Hz-Level Rack Mounted Laser System SLS-INT-1550-200-1[95](Stable Laser Systems)<3×10-15(Allan Deviation 1 s no drift removal)<1<40<2519″ rack-mountable housing, 6U high(45 cm×27 cm×62 cm)
      ORS-Mini[96](Menlo Systems)<5×10-15(MADEV at 1 s, Linear Drift Removed)

      Cubic spacer

      with a length of 5 cm

      		<2 Hz35 kg<100 W

      19″ rack-mountable 8U device

      450 mm×550 mm×360 mm

    • Table 4. Comparison of space cold atom clocks

      View table

      Table 4. Comparison of space cold atom clocks

      NameResearch teamFrequency referenceFrequency instabilityFrequency uncertaintyStatus
      CACESSIOM87Rb3.0×10-13τ-1/2 (estimated in-orbit)Not reportedLaunched/completed
      CAMiCSSIOM87Rb

      1×10-12τ-1/2(tested on-ground)

      5×10-14τ-1/2 (predicted in-orbit)

      		Not reportedLaunched/in-orbit tested

      Satellite-borne atomic clock

      based on diffuse laser-cooled

      atoms

      		SIOM133Cs

      6×10-13τ-1/2

      (tested on-ground)

      		Not reportedGround tested
      PHARAOEuropean Space Agency133Cs

      3.0×10-13τ-1/2(tested on-ground)

      1.1×10-13τ-1/2

      (predicted in-orbit)

      2.3×10-15

      (tested on-ground)

      		Ground tested
      PARCSU.S. JPL, NIST, University of Colorado133CsNot reportedNot reportedOn hold
      RACEU.S. Penn State University87RbNot reportedNot reportedOn hold
    Tools

    Get Citation

    Copy Citation Text

    Jingfeng Xiang, Wei Ren, Siminda Deng, Liang Liu, Lü Desheng. Space Cold Atomic Clock Technologies[J]. Chinese Journal of Lasers, 2024, 51(11): 1101012

    Download Citation

    EndNote(RIS)BibTexPlain Text
    Set citation alerts for article
    Save article for my favorites
    Paper Information

    Category: laser devices and laser physics

    Received: Feb. 27, 2024

    Accepted: May. 13, 2024

    Published Online: Jun. 7, 2024

    The Author Email: Desheng Lü (dslv@siom.ac.cn)

    DOI:10.3788/CJL240625

    CSTR:32183.14.CJL240625

    Topics

    laser devices and laser physics
    Lasers and Laser Optics
    Laser physics
    laser manufacturing
    Instrumentation, Measurement and Metrology