Atomic clocks represent today the most precise and sensible time sensors ever realized. The application fields are several: high precision tests of fundamental physics, chronometric levelling-based geodesy, improved RF standards for navigation and observations of cosmic radio sources with very-long baseline interferometry. For all these purposes, today’s complex and bulky optical clock experimental setups need to be re-engineered into more compact and power efficient systems, ensuring at the same time a high stability and accuracy, but also high operation reliability in critical environments.
Atomsensors offers a transportable optical clock based on laser-cooled strontium atoms. The instrument is composed of a compact source of ultra-cold strontium atoms, including also a compact and complete laser setup. The whole setup fits within a volume of 2 m3. The high degree of operation reliability allows a relative uncertainty of the clock in the 10-15 range.
