Microwave cavity for cold atomic clock in micro-gravity environment

Abstract

The invention provides a microwave cavity for a cold atomic clock in micro-gravity environment, which consists of coupling waveguide, a microwave cavity and a cover plate. The microwave cavity and the cover plate are combined to form a rectangular microwave cavity, wherein central cutoff waveguide is arranged on the central axis in the length direction of the microwave cavity; end cutoff waveguide extends from two ends of the microwave cavity along the central axis respectively; the central cutoff waveguide symmetrically separates the rectangular microwave cavity into four communicated areas, namely two guided wave areas on two sides of the central cutoff waveguide and two microwave action areas at two ends of the central cutoff waveguide; the coupling waveguide is vertically fixed at the symmetric central position of the cover plate; a microwave feeder mounting hole is reserved on the side wall of the coupling waveguide; and a microwave coupling slot on the symmetric central position of the cover plate forms a microwave coupling channel of the coupling waveguide and the rectangular microwave cavity. The invention provides the key technology of interaction between the microwave and atoms of the cold atomic clock in the micro-gravity environment.

Description

technical field [0001] The invention relates to an atomic frequency standard and microwave technology, in particular to a microwave cavity of a cold atomic clock in a microgravity environment. Background technique [0002] Time (or frequency) is one of the most basic physical quantities, and it is also the basic physical quantity with the highest measurement accuracy at present. We know that the measurement of any physical quantity must be measured with different scales, and time is also measured with scales. Currently, the Fountain Atomic Clock is the most accurate time-frequency standard in the world. In the gravitational field environment, after the atoms are captured and cooled by the magneto-optical trap in the trapping area, they are thrown vertically upward at a certain initial velocity by moving the optical glue. In the process of throwing up and falling, it passes through a cylindrical microwave cavity twice and interacts with the microwave field in it. Finally, t...

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Problems solved by technology

[0006] The purpose of the present invention is to solve the problem that the cylindrical microwave cavity commonly used in the fountain atomic clock with only one microwave action area in the above-mentioned prior art is not applicable in a microgravity environment, and to provide a microwave cavity for a cold atomic

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