Compact Microwave Mercury Ion Clock for Space Applications

John D. Prestage, Meirong Tu, Sang K. Chung, and Paul MacNeal

Abstract:	We review progress in developing a small Hg ion clock for space operation based on a breadboard ion-clock physics package where Hg ions are shuttled between a quadrupole and a 16-pole rf trap. With this architecture, we have demonstrated a short-term stability ~ 1-2×10-13 at 1 second, averaging to 10-15 at 1 day. This development shows that H-maser quality stabilities can be produced in a small clock package, comparable in size to an ultra-stable quartz oscillator required for holding 1-2×10-13 at 1 second. We have completed an ion clock physics package designed to withstand vibration of launch and are currently building a ~ 1 kg engineering model for test. We also discuss frequency steering software algorithms that simultaneously measure ion signal size and lamp light output, useful for long-term operation and selfoptimization of microwave power and return engineering data.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 39th Annual Precise Time and Time Interval Meeting November 27 - 29, 2007 Hyatt Regency Long Beach Long Beach, California
Pages:	249 - 256
Cite this article:	Prestage, John D., Tu, Meirong, Chung, Sang K., MacNeal, Paul, "Compact Microwave Mercury Ion Clock for Space Applications," Proceedings of the 39th Annual Precise Time and Time Interval Meeting, Long Beach, California, November 2007, pp. 249-256.
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