Cancellation of the Collisional Frequency Shift in Caesium Fountain Clocks

Journal Article · Fri Apr 13 04:00:00 EDT 2007 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.98.153002· OSTI ID:20951234

Szymaniec, K; Chalupczak, W ^[1]; Tiesinga, E; Williams, C J ^[2]; Weyers, S; Wynands, R ^[3]

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1. National Physical Laboratory, Hampton Road, Teddington, TW11 0LW (United Kingdom)
2. Joint Quantum Institute and Atomic Physic Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-8423 (United States)
3. Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Bundesallee 100, 38116 Braunschweig (Germany)

We have observed that the collisional frequency shift in primary caesium fountain clocks varies with the clock state population composition and, in particular, is zero for a given fraction of the |F=4,m{sub F}=0> atoms, depending on the initial cloud parameters. We present a theoretical model explaining our observations. The possibility of the collisional shift cancellation implies an improvement in the performance of caesium fountain standards and a simplification in their operation.

• OSTI ID: 20951234
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 15 Vol. 98; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ATOMIC CLOCKS
CANCELLATION
CESIUM
OPERATION
PERFORMANCE