3D printed microwave cavity for atomic clock applications: proof of concept

• Published in: Electronics letters Vol. 54; no. 11; pp. 691 - 693
• Main Authors: Pellaton, M, Affolderbach, C, Skrivervik, A.K, Ivanov, A.E, Debogovic, T, de Rijk, E, Mileti, G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: The Institution of Engineering and Technology 31.05.2018
• Subjects: 3D printed microwave cavity; additively manufactured microwave resonator cavity; AM microwave resonator cavity; atomic clocks; clock short‐term stability; coatings; conventionally‐machined aluminium component; double‐resonance vapour‐cell atomic clock application; DR vapour‐cell atomic clock application; frequency 6.835 GHz; loop‐gap resonator approach; metal‐coated polymer; microwave resonators; Microwave technology; polymers; rapid prototyping (industrial); three‐dimensional printing; clock short-term stability; microwave resonators; frequency 6.835 GHz; double-resonance vapour-cell atomic clock application; atomic clocks; 3D printed microwave cavity; loop-gap resonator approach; metal-coated polymer; coatings; additively manufactured microwave resonator cavity; conventionally-machined aluminium component; three-dimensional printing; AM microwave resonator cavity; polymers; DR vapour-cell atomic clock application; rapid prototyping (industrial)
• ISSN: 0013-5194; 1350-911X; 1350-911X
• DOI: 10.1049/el.2017.4176

The authors present the realisation and characterisation of an additively manufactured (AM) microwave resonator cavity for double-resonance (DR) vapour-cell atomic clocks. The design of the compact microwave cavity is based on the loop-gap resonator approach, previously demonstrated for conventionally-machined aluminium components. In the present study, the resonator is fabricated by AM using a metal-coated polymer. A resonance frequency at the desired 6.835 GHz rubidium atomic frequency is obtained. When employed in an atomic clock setup, the AM cavity enables a DR signal of <500 Hz linewidth and of nearly 20% contrast, thus fulfilling the stringent requirements for DR atomic clocks. A clock short-term stability of 1 × 10−12 τ−1/2 is demonstrated, comparable to state-of-the-art clock performances.