Dick effect in a pulsed atomic clock using Coherent Population Trapping

The Dick effect can be a limitation of the achievable frequency stability of a passive atomic frequency standard when the ancillary frequency source is only periodically sampled. Here we analyze the Dick effect for a pulsed vapor cell clock using coherent population trapping (CPT). Due to its specific interrogation process without atomic preparation nor detection outside of the Ramsey pulses, it exhibits an original shape of the sensitivity function to phase noise of the oscillator. Numerical calculations using a three-level atom model are successfully compared with measurements; an approximate formula of the sensitivity function is given as an easy-to-use tool. A comparison of our CPT clock sensitivity to phase noise with a clock of the same duty cycle using a two-level system reveals a higher sensitivity in the CPT case. The influence of a free-evolution time variation and of a detection duration lengthening on this sensitivity is studied. Finally this study permitted to choose an adapted quartz oscillator and allowed an improvement of the clock fractional frequency stability at the level of 3.2x10-13 at 1s

Limitations of long term stability in a coherent population trapping Cs clock

Vapor cell atomic clocks exhibit reduced frequency stability for averaging time between about one hundred and a few thousand seconds. Here we report a study on the impact of the main parameters on the mid-to-long term instability of a buffer-gas vapor cell Cs clock, based on coherent population trapping (CPT). The CPT signal is observed on the Cs D1 line transmission, using a double $Lambda$ scheme and a Ramsey interrogation technique. The effects on the clock frequency of the magnetic field, the cell temperature, and the laser intensities are reported. We show in particular that the laser intensity shift is temperature dependent. Along with the laser intensity ratio and laser polarization properties, this is one of the most important parameters.

Ramsey spectroscopy of high-contrast CPT resonances with push-pull optical pumping in Cs vapor

We report the detection of high-contrast and narrow Coherent Population Trapping (CPT) Ramsey fringes in a Cs vapor cell using a simple-architecture laser system. The latter allows the combination of push-pull optical pumping (PPOP) and a temporal Ramsey-like pulsed interrogation. An originality of the optics package is the use of a single Mach-Zehnder electro-optic modulator (MZ EOM) both for optical sidebands generation and light switch for pulsed interaction. Typical Ramsey fringes with a linewidth of 166 Hz and a contrast of 33 % are detected in a cm-scale buffer-gas filled Cs vapor cell. This technique could be interesting for the development of high-performance and low power consumption compact vapor cell clocks based on CPT.

Coherent Population Trapping Resonances in Buffer Gas-filled Cs Vapor Cells with Push-Pull Optical Pumping

We report on a theoretical study and experimental characterization of coherent population trapping (CPT) resonances in buffer gas-filled vapor cells with push-pull optical pumping (PPOP) on Cs D1 line. We point out that the push-pull interaction scheme is identical to the so-called lin per lin polarization scheme. Expressions of the relevant dark states, as well as of absorption, are reported. The experimental setup is based on the combination of a distributed feedback (DFB) diode laser, a pigtailed intensity Mach-Zehnder electro-optic modulator (MZ EOM) for optical sidebands generation and a Michelson-like interferometer. A microwave technique to stabilize the transfer function operating point of the MZ EOM is implemented for proper operation. A CPT resonance contrast as high as 78% is reported in a cm-scale cell for the magnetic-field insensitive clock transition. The impact of the laser intensity on the CPT clock signal key parameters (linewidth - contrast - linewidth/contrast ratio) is reported for three different cells with various dimensions and buffer gas contents. The potential of the PPOP technique for the development of high-performance atomic vapor cell clocks is discussed.

Temperature Dependence Cancellation of the Cs Clock Frequency in the Presence of Ne Buffer Gas

The temperature dependence of the Cs clock transition frequency in a vapor cell filled with Ne buffer gas has been measured. The experimental setup is based on the coherent population trapping (CPT) technique and a temporal Ramsey interrogation allowing a high resolution. A quadratic dependence of the frequency shift is shown. The temperature of the shift cancellation is evaluated. The actual Ne pressure in the cell is determined from the frequency shift of the 895nm optical transition. We can then determine the Cs-Ne collisional temperature coefficients of the clock frequency. These results can be useful for vapor cell clocks and especially for future micro-clocks.