High Performance Pulsed Rubidium Clock for Space Applications

Precision navigation and timing requirements continually push for improved atomic clock performance. With the recent developments in Advanced Technology Frequency Standards (ATAFS) it has been shown that the limits in stability performance have yet to be reached. Fractional frequency stability requirements in the order of 1x10-12 per root tau with a flicker floor of < 1x10-14 is a formidable goal for spaceborne atomic clocks. However, it is necessary to maintain sub-nanosecond timing accuracy. Kernco proposes a logical follow-on to the ATAFS program by adapting the current CPT MASER to operate in the pulsed mode. Through the incorporation of hardware upgrades to the current CPT MASER, the resultant Pulsed Rubidium Atomic Clock (PRAC) is expected to provide the frequency stability of 1x10-12 per root tau with a flicker floor of <1x10-14. BENEFIT: Technology developed through this SBIR effort is intended to produce a state-of-the-art Pulsed Optically Pumped (POP) Rubidium Maser Atomic Clock. This clock, with its reduced size, weight, power and cost, coupled with its potential for performance improvements over existing space flight clocks, has a wide range of applications over a broad customer base.