Diode laser-pumped Rb-beam atomic clock as a novel primary frequency standard

A laser-pumped rubidium-beam atomic clock is proposed to improve the accuracy of the clock´s microwave frequency and to develop a novel primary frequency standard. In this system, the clock is controlled by using the optical-microwave double-resonant signal. Several preliminary experiments were carried out. In the first step, the authors observed the fluorescence signal of pumped atoms in the Rb beam and confirmed the effect of optical pumping. In the second step, approximately 1 kHz of linewidth was obtained in the derivative of the microwave resonant signal.<>