Novel Atom source for ultra-cold Sr.

随着量子技术在现实世界的技术应用中发现越来越多的用途。这些应用遍及所有地形；地面、水下、空中和外星技术都在设计中，需要光学原子钟才能充分发挥其潜力。为了在此类应用中发挥作用，时钟必须设计成尺寸、重量和功率(交换)都很小。为了实现这一点，必须对原子源进行有效和良好的控制。伯明翰锶钟小组之前取得的结果表明，原子源的体积很小，没有黑体辐射的系统漂移。这允许构造更小和更精确的光学点阵时钟。这种“冷”方法允许在低功率和低成本的半导体激光照射下，从块状材料中快速、可控地发射锶原子蒸气。初步结果表明，在磁光陷阱(MOT)中可以完全控制和以几赫兹的重复频率捕获数以百万计的锶原子。展望这些成就，重要的是要理解：1)正确理解迄今获得的结果背后的机制。2)发射激光的温度、波长和强度对原子源的依赖。3)不同材料源对原子的影响，如氧化锶、氢氧化锶、碳酸锶、块状锶。同样重要的是研究如何最好地从这种来源释放原子，以便它们可以在时钟上使用。4)可能最重要的是，对于长期的太空便携项目，必须调查样品在用完之前可以使用多长时间，以及

As quantum technology is finding more and more uses in real world technological applications. These applications range through all terrains; earth bound, underwater, airborne and extra-terrestrial technologies are all being designed that would require optical atomic clocks to reach their full potential. In order to be useful in such applications clocks must be designed with small size, weight and power (SWAP). In order to achieve this the atom source must be efficient and well controlled. Results previously achieved by the Birmingham Strontium clock group has demonstrated an atom source which is small in size and is free from Black Body Radiation systematic shifts. This allows the construction of much smaller and more accurate optical lattice clocks. The "cold" method allows fast and controlled emission of strontium atomic vapour from a bulk material irradiated by a low power and low-cost diode laser. Initial results demonstrate that millions of strontium atoms from the vapour can be captured in a magneto-optical trap (MOT) both in a fully controlled manner and with several Hz repetition rate.Going forward from these achievements it is important to understand:1) A proper understanding of mechanism behind the results so far obtained.2) The dependence on temperature, wave length and intensity of the emission laser on the atom source.3) The effect of different material sources for the atoms, such as strontium oxide, strontium hydroxide, strontium carbonate, bulk strontium. It is also important to investigate how best to release atoms from such a source, so they can be used in the clock.4) Possibly most importantly for long term portable project in space it is imperative to investigate how long the sample can be used before it runs out, and