Mercury Atomic Frequency Standards for Space Based Navigation and Timekeeping

R.L Tjoelker, E.A. Burt, S. Chung, R.L. Hamell, J.D. Prestage, B. Tucker, P. Cash, R. Lutwak

Abstract:	A low power Mercury Atomic Frequency Standard (MAFS) has been developed and demonstrated on the path towards future space clock applications. A self-contained mercury ion breadboard clock - emulating flight clock interfaces, steering a USO local oscillator, and consuming ~40 Watts - has been operating at JPL for more than a year. This complete,modular ion clock instrument demonstrates that key GNSS size, weight, and power (SWaP) requirements can be achieved while still maintaining short and long term performance demonstrated in previous ground ion clocks. The MAFS breadboard serves as a flexible platform for optimizing further space clock development and guides engineering model design trades towards fabrication of an ion clock for space flight.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 43rd Annual Precise Time and Time Interval Systems and Applications Meeting November 14 - 17, 2011 Hyatt Regency Long Beach Long Beach, California
Pages:	293 - 304
Cite this article:	Tjoelker, R.L, Burt, E.A., Chung, S., Hamell, R.L., Prestage, J.D., Tucker, B., Cash, P., Lutwak, R., "Mercury Atomic Frequency Standards for Space Based Navigation and Timekeeping," Proceedings of the 43rd Annual Precise Time and Time Interval Systems and Applications Meeting, Long Beach, California, November 2011, pp. 293-304.
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