Miniaturized Timing Sources

The objective of this activity is the design, development, test and validation of a timing source based on micro-machined atomic clock technology as required for high-end navigation and secured-telecom receivers, as well as high resolution sensors and instruments.  

A number of studies have demonstrated the many advantages of miniature battery- powered timing sources: integrated in a portable user terminal, such sources allow for ultra-fast acquisition (e.g. for secured telecom with long spreading codes) and long coherent integration (e.g. for GNSS operation in interference or indoor environment). Similarly, it has been shown that such sources would significantly improve the sensitivity of some on-board EO instruments (e.g. radiometers, radio- occultation). After major achievements outside of Europe over the last years resulting in the availability of a commercial unit, a number of studies and investigations have flourished in Europe for the development of miniature and low power consumption atomic clocks. Despite many efforts, most of today concepts rely on miniature glass-blown vapour cells that do not fully exploit the micromachining technologies. Recent progress in Si-based micromachining techniques open new possibilities to further reduce the size and integration capabilities of the vapour-cells, thereby allowing for the realisation of fully integrated Micro-machined Timing Sources. The key target specifications are: Short-term stability: ~few 1e-10 @ 1sec.Drift: < few 1e-10/month.Power : < 150mW. The proposed activity shall include the following tasks: Literature/patent review and specification consolidation.Design definition.Manufacture, assembly, test and validation.Design assessment and recommendations. The proposed development shall target both ground and space applications.