Design of the cold atom PHARAO space clock and initial test results
Philippe Laurent
(1, 2, 3)
,
Michel Abgrall
(4)
,
Christian Jentsch
(1, 2, 3)
,
Pierre Lemonde
(1, 2, 3)
,
Giorgio Santarelli
(1, 2, 3)
,
André Clairon
(1, 2, 3)
,
Ivan Maksimovic
(1, 2, 3)
,
Sébastien Bize
(1, 2, 3)
,
Christophe Salomon
(5)
,
Didier Blonde
(6)
,
Jean-Francois Vega
(6)
,
O. Grosjean
(6)
,
Frédéric Picard
(6)
,
Muriel Saccoccio
(6)
,
Michel Chaubet
(6)
,
Nadine Ladiette
(6)
,
L. Guillet
(6)
,
Isabelle Zenone
(6)
,
Christophe Delaroche
(6)
,
Christian Sirmain
(6)
Michel Abgrall
- Fonction : Auteur
- PersonId : 1241408
- IdHAL : michel-abgrall
- ORCID : 0000-0003-0415-0770
Ivan Maksimovic
- Fonction : Auteur
- PersonId : 1394779
- IdHAL : ivan-maksimovic
Sébastien Bize
- Fonction : Auteur
- PersonId : 739323
- IdHAL : sebastien-bize
- ORCID : 0000-0003-2483-5152
- IdRef : 060323655
Résumé
In this paper we describe the cold atom clock PHARAO, designed for microgravity operation. All elements of the PHARAO engineering model have been manufactured and delivered to CNES, the French space agency. We present the clock design, its main characteristics, and initial science operation. PHARAO is one of the main components of the Atomic Clock Ensemble in Space payload that is scheduled to fly on board the International Space Station in 2010.