Frequency standards with cold atoms

• Grant number: 11/20592-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: March 01, 2012
• End date: February 28, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Electrical Engineering - Electrical, Magnetic and Electronic Measurements, Instrumentation
• Principal Investigator: Daniel Varela Magalhães
• Grantee: Stella Torres Müller Bomfim
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 08/57858-9 - National Institute for Optics and Photonics, AP.TEM

Abstract

Precise frequency references have many applications in research, industrial technology development and services. In one hand is always important the continuous development and maintaining of laboratory standards, being in the state of the art of the reproduction capability of an accurate time scale. On the other hand, carry on the high resolution signals to remote or embedded applications has been a constant challenge. The proposed system uses the accuracy capability associated to an atomic system to a compact characteristic enough to turn it embedded in many vehicles as well as to serve as a remote reference system that preserve traceability to an initial reference. The advantage in the use of cold atoms comes from the resolution capability of such system. in this way we should obtain a prototype of a frequency standard with mobile characteristics, but maintaining confidence levels beyond the actual commercial systems. The actual experiment will be used as a test bed to essay different conditions for the new system. We also dispose of another laboratory that is an atomic fountain, on which the researcher will be involved on the ongoing efforts for the maximization of signal-to-noise ratio and characterization of the frequency shifts, as well as in the procedures to perform local and remote comparisons. (AU)