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Abstract: We present a compact atomic frequency standard based on the interrogation of magnetically trapped 87Rb atoms. Two photons, in the microwave and radiofrequency domain excite the atomic transition. At a magnetic field of 3.23G this transition from ∣F =1, m F =−1〉 to ∣F =2, m F =1〉 is 1st order insensitive to magnetic field variations. Long Ramsey interrogation times can thus be achieved, leading to a projected stability in the low 10−13 at 1s. This makes this device a viable alternative to LITE and HORACE as a good candidate for replacing or complementing the rubidium frequency standards and passive hydrogen masers already on board of the GPS, GLONASS, and GALILEO satellites. Here we present preliminary results. We use an atom chip to cool and trap the atoms. A coplanar waveguide is integrated to the chip to carry the Ramsey interrogation signal, making the physics package potentially as small as (5cm)3. We describe the experimental apparatus and show preliminary Ramsey fringes of 1.25Hz linewidth. We also show a preliminary frequency stability σ y =1.5×10−12 τ −1/2 for 10< τ <103 s. This represents one order of magnitude improvement with respect to previous experiments. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In scanning near-field optical microscopy the sample topography may have a strong effect on the optical image signal. This cross talk has been investigated in subwavelength-periodically patterned thin-film structures using a reflection-mode near-field optical microscope. A comparison between measured and simulated line scans shows that far-field light waves emitted from the tip aperture play a major role in the imaging process.© 2001 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report tests of local position invariance based on measurements of the ratio of the ground state hyperfine frequencies of l33Cs and 87Rb in laser-cooled atomic fountain clocks. Measurements extending over 14 years set a stringent limit to a possible variation with time of this ratio: d In(&ngr;Rb/&ngr;Cs)/dt = (--1.39 ± 0.91) × 10-16 yr-l. This improves by a factor of 7.7 over our previous report [H. Marion etal., Phys. Rev. Lett. 90, 150801 (2003)]. Our measurements also set the first limit to a fractional variation of the Rb/Cs frequency ratio with gravitational potential at the level of c2d In(&ngr;Rb/&ngr;Cs)/dU = (0.11 ± 1.04) × 10-6, providing a new stringent differential redshift test. The above limits equivalently apply to the fractional variation of the quantity &agr;-0.49(gRb/gCs), which involves the fine-structure constant a and the ratio of the nuclear g-factors of the two alkalis. The link with variations of the light quark mass is also presented together with a global analysis combining other available highly accurate clock comparisons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This article describes the work performed at BNM-SYRTE (Observatoire de Paris) in the past few years, toward the improvement and the use of microwave frequency standards using laser-cooled atoms. First, recent improvements of the 133Cs and 87Rb atomic fountains are described. An important advance is the achievement of a fractional frequency instability of where τ is the measurement time in seconds, thanks to the routine use of a cryogenic sapphire oscillator as an ultra-stable local frequency reference. The second advance is a powerful method to control the frequency shift due to cold collisions. These two advances lead to a fractional frequency in stability of at 50 000 s between two independent primary standards. In addition, these clocks realize the SI second with an accuracy of , one order of magnitude below that of uncooled devices. Tests of fundamental physical laws constitute an important field of application for highly accurate atomic clocks. In a second part, we describe tests of possible variations of fundamental constants using 87Rb and 133Cs fountains. The third part is an update on the cold atom space clock PHARAO developed in collaboration with CNES. This clock is one of the main instruments of the ACES/ESA mission which will fly on board the International Space Station in 2007-2008, enabling a new generation of relativity tests. To cite this article: S. Bize et al., C. R. Physique 5 (2004). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We demonstrate fiber Fabry-Perot (FFP) cavities with concave mirrors that can be operated at cavity lengths as large as 1.5 mm without significant deterioration of the finesse. This is achieved by using a laser dot machining technique to shape spherical mirrors with ultralow roughness and employing single-mode fibers with large mode area for good mode matching to the cavity. Additionally, in contrast to previous FFPs, these cavities can be used over an octave-spanning frequency range with adequate coatings. We also show directly that shape deviations caused by the fiber's index profile lead to a finesse decrease as observed in earlier attempts to build long FFP cavities, and show a way to overcome this problem.

We describe and characterize a device for alkali vapor pressure modulation on the 100 ms timescale in a single-cell cold atom experiment. Its mechanism is based on optimized heat conduction between a current-modulated alkali dispenser and a heat sink at room temperature. We have studied both the short-term behavior during individual pulses and the long-term pressure evolution in the cell. The device combines fast trap loading and relatively long trap lifetime, enabling high repetition rates in a very simple setup. These features make it particularly suitable for portable atomic sensors.

We report tests of local position invariance based on measurements of the ratio of the ground state hyperfine frequencies of 133Cs and 87Rb in laser-cooled atomic fountain clocks. Measurements extending over 14 years set a stringent limit to a possible variation with time of this ratio: d ln(ν(Rb)/ν(Cs))/dt=(-1.39±0.91)×10(-16) yr(-1). This improves by a factor of 7.7 over our previous report [H. Marion et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 90, 150801 (2003)]. Our measurements also set the first limit to a fractional variation of the Rb/Cs frequency ratio with gravitational potential at the level of c(2)d ln(ν(Rb)/ν(Cs))/dU=(0.11±1.04)×10(-6), providing a new stringent differential redshift test. The above limits equivalently apply to the fractional variation of the quantity α(-0.49)(g(Rb)/g(Cs)), which involves the fine-structure constant α and the ratio of the nuclear g-factors of the two alkalis. The link with variations of the light quark mass is also presented together with a global analysis combining other available highly accurate clock comparisons.

We excite spin waves with spatially inhomogeneous Ramsey pulses and study the resulting frequency shifts of a chip-scale atomic clock of trapped 87Rb. The density-dependent frequency shifts of the hyperfine transition simulate the s-wave collisional frequency shifts of fermions, including those of optical lattice clocks. As the spin polarizations oscillate in the trap, the frequency shift reverses and it depends on the area of the second Ramsey pulse, exhibiting a predicted beyond mean-field frequency shift. Numerical and analytic models illustrate these observed behaviors.

We give an overview of the work done with the Laboratoire National de Métrologie et d'Essais-Systèmes de Référence Temps-Espace (LNE-SYRTE) fountain ensemble during the last five years. After a description of the clock ensemble, comprising three fountains, FO1, FO2, and FOM, and the newest developments, we review recent studies of several systematic frequency shifts. This includes the distributed cavity phase shift, which we evaluate for the FO1 and FOM fountains, applying the techniques of our recent work on FO2. We also report calculations of the microwave lensing frequency shift for the three fountains, review the status of the blackbody radiation shift, and summarize recent experimental work to control microwave leakage and spurious phase perturbations. We give current accuracy budgets. We also describe several applications in time and frequency metrology: fountain comparisons, calibrations of the international atomic time, secondary representation of the SI second based on the (87)Rb hyperfine frequency, absolute measurements of optical frequencies, tests of the T2L2 satellite laser link, and review fundamental physics applications of the LNE-SYRTE fountain ensemble. Finally, we give a summary of the tests of the PHARAO cold atom space clock performed using the FOM transportable fountain.

Optically trapped ensembles are of crucial importance for frequency measurements and quantum memories but generally suffer from strong dephasing due to inhomogeneous density and light shifts. We demonstrate a drastic increase of the coherence time to 21 s on the magnetic field insensitive clock transition of (87)Rb by applying the recently discovered spin self-rephasing [C. Deutsch et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 105, 020401 (2010)]. This result confirms the general nature of this new mechanism and thus shows its applicability in atom clocks and quantum memories. A systematic investigation of all relevant frequency shifts and noise contributions yields a stability of 2.4×10(-11)τ(-1/2), where τ is the integration time in seconds. Based on a set of technical improvements, the presented frequency standard is predicted to rival the stability of microwave fountain clocks in a potentially much more compact setup.

We report the operation of a dual Rb/Cs atomic fountain clock. (133)Cs and (87)Rb atoms are cooled, launched, and detected simultaneously in LNE-SYRTE's FO2 double fountain. The dual clock operation occurs with no degradation of either the stability or the accuracy. We describe the key features for achieving such a simultaneous operation. We also report on the results of the first Rb/Cs frequency measurement campaign performed with FO2 in this dual atom clock configuration, including a new determination of the absolute (87)Rb hyperfine frequency.

We present an atomic clock based on the interrogation of magnetically trapped (87)Rb atoms. Two photons, in the microwave and radiofrequency domain, excite the clock transition. At a magnetic field of 3.23 G the clock transition from |F = 1, m(F) = -1> to |F = 2, m(F) = 1> is 1st-order insensitive to magnetic field variations. Ramsey interrogation times longer than 2 s can be achieved, leading to a projected clock stability in the low 10(-13) at 1 s for a cloud of 10(5) atoms. We use an atom chip to cool and trap the atoms. A coplanar waveguide is integrated to the chip to carry the Ramsey interrogation signal, making the physics package as small as (5 cm)(3). We describe the experimental setup and show preliminary Ramsey fringes of line width 1.25 Hz.