QS-EXACT: Quantum SiC for EXtreme Application Clock Technology

QS-Exact，即Quantum SIC for Extreme Application Clock Technology，将把英国行业开发的一系列构建块技术集成到由新生半导体构建的强大计时系统中。这项技术采用了一种新的方法来实现高精度的精密时钟，并将产生稳定的计时系统，这对广泛的基础设施的运行至关重要。目前运行的原子钟有许多不同类型，在大小、精度和稳定性方面都有不同的范围。典型的原子钟使用从Rb或Cs发射的微波作为频率标准。更精确的时钟的一个例子是基于氢脉泽(相当于激光的微波)。然而，这些微波激射器系统非常大，不适合许多应用。该项目将利用宽禁带半导体碳化硅中原子尺度缺陷的量子力学特性，创造出一种集稳定性、精确度、便携性和耐用性于一体的独特组合。当缺陷被光学激发时，碳化硅中硅空位缺陷的电子结构导致发射光谱纯的微波信号；允许构造固态碳化硅MASER。这种制作时钟的方法在许多方面都是有利的。碳化硅具有典范的物理特性，因此这样的系统将具有内在的弹性和抗辐射能力。该系统不存在限制其他时钟部署的稳定性问题，因为脉泽的频率受到缺陷的量子属性的限制。该技术将提供比目前可用的更紧凑、更耐用的计时系统，但具有类似的性能。因此，它将非常适合于从海底到太空等具有挑战性的环境中的操作，导航潜艇并提供精确的在轨操作。

QS-EXACT, Quantum SiC for EXtreme Application Clock Technology, will integrate a series of building block technologies developed by UK industry into a robust timing system built by Nascent Semiconductor. This technology takes a new approach to the realisation of a precision clock that is highly accurate and will result in stable timing systems which are crucial to the operation of a wide range of infrastructure.There are a number of different types of atomic clock currently in operation, ranging in size, accuracy, and stability. Typical atomic clocks use microwave emissions from rubidium or caesium as a frequency standard. An example of a more accurate clock is based on the hydrogen MASER (the microwave equivalent to the LASER). However, these MASER systems are very large and unsuited to many applications. This project will exploit the quantum mechanical properties of atomic scale defects in silicon carbide, a wide bandgap semiconductor, to create a clock with a unique combination of stability, accuracy, portability and durability. The electronic structure of the silicon vacancy defect in silicon carbide results in the emission of a spectrally pure microwave signal when the defects are optically excited; allowing for the construction of a solid state silicon carbide MASER.Such an approach to crafting a clock is advantageous in a number of ways. Silicon carbide has exemplary physical properties and so such a system will be intrinsically resilient and radiation hard. The system does not suffer from stability issues that restrict the deployment of other clocks, as the frequency of the MASER is constrained by the quantum properties of the defects.The technology will offer a more compact and durable timing system that those currently available, but with a comparable performance. As a result it will be ideally suited for operations in challenging environments, from subsea to space, navigating submarines and delivering precision on-orbit operations.