A Prototype of a Compact Rubidium-Based Optical Frequency Reference for Operation on Nanosatellites

Space-borne optical frequency references based on spectroscopy of atomic vapors may serve as an integral part of compact optical atomic clocks, which can advance global navigation systems, or can be utilized for earth observation missions as part of laser systems for cold atom gradiometers. Nanosate...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inarXiv.org
Main Authors Strangfeld, Aaron, Kanthak, Simon, Schiemangk, Max, Wiegand, Benjamin, Wicht, Andreas, Ling, Alexander, Krutzik, Markus
Format Paper Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Ithaca Cornell University Library, arXiv.org 05.05.2021
Subjects
Atomic beam spectroscopy
Atomic clocks
Brittleness
Cubesat
Frequency stability
Gradiometers
Launch costs
Magnetic measurement
Nanosatellites
Navigation systems
Optical frequency
Physics - Atomic Physics
Physics - Instrumentation and Detectors
Power consumption
Prototypes
Rubidium
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Summary:Space-borne optical frequency references based on spectroscopy of atomic vapors may serve as an integral part of compact optical atomic clocks, which can advance global navigation systems, or can be utilized for earth observation missions as part of laser systems for cold atom gradiometers. Nanosatellites offer low launch-costs, multiple deployment opportunities and short payload development cycles, enabling rapid maturation of optical frequency references and underlying key technologies in space. Towards an in-orbit demonstration on such a platform, we have developed a CubeSat-compatible prototype of an optical frequency reference based on the D2-transition in rubidium. A frequency instability of 1.7e-12 at 1 s averaging time is achieved. The optical module occupies a volume of 35 cm^3, weighs 73 g and consumes 780 mW of power.
ISSN:2331-8422
DOI:10.48550/arxiv.2105.02021