Passive-type Rubidium Atomic Frequency Standard Spectrum Lamp To Optimize The Design And Frequency Standard Technology

This paper focuses on the study of the rubidium discharge lamp (rubidium lamp) ,which is one of.the critical elements of the lamp pumped passive rubidium atomic frequency standards.Atomic frequency standards (AFS) are very stable and accurate frequency sources .It is reasonable to say that modern science and technology base partly on AFS. The passive rubidium atomic frequency standard (RAFS) is presently the most popular AFS because of its particular advantages of small size, low weight, low power consumption and excellent stability. At first, the thesis described the development, the application as well as theory of operating of RAFS.The function of the rubidium lamp govern the performance of RAFS. Although the semi-conductor laser is very appropriate to be used in RAFS as pumping light source, we still have to wait a rather long time until the laser diode can be used conveniently in the RAFS. At present ,doing some research work on rubidium lamp is important. The paper consists of the following·Lamp exciter and temperture controller. An effective temperature compensation method to stabilize the high frequency lamp exciter is reported. An improved analog heater controller is designed which has been successfully used in high performance RAFS.·Power consumption is a rather important factor in RAFS aboard satellite. Improvements have been maken in the direction of lamp exciter, temperature controller and Lamp housing structure. A start circuit and switching pulse controlled heater is reported.·It is of considerable importance for the rubidium lamp to work with proper parameters .Our experiments show that the lamp will have high light intensity, minimum noise and minimum sensitivity to the ambient temperature as well as the power supply, if the lamp exciter has suitable power and frequency characteristic, and the lamp temperature is set at the appropriate point. Furthermore A new pre-aged scheme is described.·At present, the lifetime of the rubidium lamp is the most important factor that affects the life of the RAFS. The life limiting process in the rubidium lamp is discussed and corresponded measures have been taken. The lifetime of the lamp is assessed theoretically and experimentally.·Finally, a few schemes to improve the performance of the RAFS are described. Some of these schemes have been used successfully in other field like this. The possibility of these technologies to be used in RAFS is analyzed.