Improved Timekeeping Using Advanced Trapped-Ion Clocks

R.L. Tjoelker, J.D. Prestage, L. Maleki

Abstract: Timekeeping requires practical continuously operating frequency standards with exceptional long-term stability. JPL mercury linear ion trap standards (LITS) operate continuously with short-term stability to 2.0X10^-14/r^1/2 and long-term stability limited by remaining sensitivity to the second order Doppler sh@, which varies with ion number fluctuations. In this paper, we report measurements in a 12-pole trap showing a greater than twenty-fold sensitivity reduction to all parameters affecting the Second-Order Doppler Shift This advance should further improve practical ground-based ion standard stab&y to the 1x10^-16 level and allow significant engineering simplifications enabling small high performance flight standards.
Published in: Proceedings of the 31th Annual Precise Time and Time Interval Systems and Applications Meeting
December 7 - 9, 1999
Marriott's Laguna Cliffs Resort
Dana Point, California
Pages: 597 - 604
Cite this article: Tjoelker, R.L., Prestage, J.D., Maleki, L., "Improved Timekeeping Using Advanced Trapped-Ion Clocks," Proceedings of the 31th Annual Precise Time and Time Interval Systems and Applications Meeting, Dana Point, California, December 1999, pp. 597-604.
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