NIST researchers have developed a next-generation chip-scale atomic clock that operates at high “optical” frequencies, potentially revolutionizing portable timing devices. The clock, which is about the size of a coffee bean, uses rubidium atoms confined in a tiny glass container on a chip. Two frequency combs on chips act like gears to link the atoms’ high-frequency optical ticks to a lower, widely used microwave frequency.
The new clock is much smaller and requires less power (275 milliwatts) than traditional atomic clocks. It could eventually replace traditional oscillators in applications like navigation systems and telecommunications networks. The clock’s stability is about 100 times better than NIST’s original chip-scale microwave clock, with an instability of 1.7 x 10−13 at 4,000 seconds.
The technology could lead to small, low-power clocks that are exceptionally stable and bring accurate timing to portable, battery-operated devices. The work is funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and the NIST on a Chip program.
Keywords: Metrology, Optical, Stability, Frequency, Precision
