Theoretical description and experimental evaluation of the effect of the interrogation oscillator frequency noise on the stability of a pulsed atomic frequency standard

In this paper we evaluate the effect of the interrogation oscillator frequency noise on the stability of a pulsed atomic frequency standard such as an atomic fountain or ion trap frequency standard. The atomic response to a phase perturbation in Ramsey and multi-Rabi interrogation schemes has been calculated using the density matrix formalism. The results of these calculations are used to obtain a simple model for the limitation of the frequency standard stability. An experimental evaluation of this effect has been performed by using the Cs atomic fountain frequency standard. Possible means to reduce this effect are considered