芯片原子钟的工作原理及其研究进展

Working Principle and Research Progress of Chip-scale Atomic Clock

作为导航设备的重要部件,芯片原子钟可作为战术导弹、卫星接收机、小型无人机等所用导航设备的时钟源,也可与陀螺仪和加速度计组合实现微型定位、导航与授时。介绍了相干布局囚禁(Coherent Population Trapping,CPT)现象,以及芯片原子钟的发展历程,阐述了CPT实现方案的缺点(产生极化暗态、降低原子利用率),并给出了优化方案。此外,分析了微机电系统(Micro Electro Mechanical System,MEMS)加工工艺等用于芯片原子钟制造的关键技术,并对芯片原子钟的发展趋势进行了展望。

As an important part of navigation equipments, the chip-scale atomic clock can be used as a clock source for the navigation equipments of tactical missiles, satellite receivers and small-unmanned aerial vehicles. It can also be combined with gyroscopes and accelerometers to implement the miniature positioning, navigation and timing. In this paper, the phenomenon of coherent population trapping (CPT) and the developing process of chip-scale atomic clock are firstly introduced, and the limitation of the traditional CPT scheme,such as the leak state is present and the coherent atomic is reduced,is aslo expatiated. In addition, the improvement plan is given, and the key technologies such as the processing technology of MEMS are also introduced, and the development trend of chip-scale atomic clock is finally forecasted.