Rubidium-cell quantum technologies for space atomic clocks and atomic interferometers

The principal objectives will be the experimental validation of key quantum technologies for Rb space atomic clocks and atomic interferometers. This will involve the implementation of existing expertise as well as the combination with other European partners, having different areas of specialization, to expand the current levels of experimental expertise and knowledge.    

Specifically this activity will lead to a series of components and sub-system developments; Rb gas cells with tuned buffer gas compositions for use as resonance or locking cells. Supporting developments in laser cooled Rb systems will be a key enabling element of this project. This project will aim to explore and solve current implementation issues in Rb Matter Wave Interferometry (MWI) and develop demonstrator systems to verify key performance attributes. New Rb cell containment techniques to expand the applicability of the systems already developed will also be explored. Key attributes such as laser performance, reliability and lifetime will be additional deliverables as well as methods to enhance these parameters for improved system performance.   This activity will study the stabilized laser source technologies and Rb-cell based systems for the realization of highly compact optical frequency sources at optical Rb transition wavelengths and microwave frequency references and will support cold-atom Rb atomic (matter wave) interferometers and other Rb-based quantum instrumentation. The optical frequency sources will profit from dedicated spectral aging studies of selected candidate diode laser sources, in order to address aging and lifetime issues of the instruments. The developments will be validated in the compact high-performance Rb-clock setup available, taking advantage of custom-made Rb cells with reduced sensitivity to environmental parameters.   In collaboration with other European interested participating state partners, these developments can further be employed and validated in the demonstration of a highly compact cold-atom atomic clock system