IOTA: Compact Ion Clock for Precision Timing Applications

原子钟有着广泛的应用，从通信、导航到贸易和科学研究。与目前的商用系统相比，基于捕获原子离子的系统有望显著提高精度。在研究实验室中，这种系统已经证明了10-18的精度。然而，由于其复杂性，功耗和环境要求，这些系统远非便携式。为了产生电子参考信号，光学原子钟包含一个光学参考，一个稳定到原子内光学跃迁的激光，以及一个光学频率梳。苏塞克斯大学的两个研究小组正在开发一种基于捕获钙离子和微梳系统的便携式原子参考系统的演示。该项目旨在解决两个原子钟子系统中的两个技术挑战。为了提高系统的紧凑性、稳健性和重量，这两个研究小组与光学技术开发领域的领先公司MSquared激光器合作。此外，原子钟系统的商业开发将以系统集成商为重点进行探索。

Atomic clocks have a wide range of applications from communication, navigation to trading and scientific research. Systems based on trapped atomic ions promise significantly improved accuracy compared to currently commercially available systems. Accuracies of 10-18 have been demonstrated with such systems in research labs. However, due to their complexity, power consumption and environmental requirements, these systems are far from portable. To generate an electronic reference signal optical atomic clocks contain an optical reference, a laser stabilised to an optical transition within an atomic species, and an optical frequency comb. The two research groups at the University of Sussex are developing demonstrators for a portable atomic reference system based on trapped calcium ions and a micro-comb system. This project aims to address two technological challenges within the two atomic clock subsystems. To improve the systems' compactness, robustness and weight, the two research groups join forces with MSquared Lasers, a leading company in optical technology development. In addition, the commercial exploitation of the atomic clock system will be explored with focus on system integrators.