Compact atomic clock based on coherent population trapping

A simple, compact, low-power physics package for a vapour-cell atomic clock is described. The device measures 6.6/spl times/16/spl times/1.3 cm and dissipates less than 30 mW of electrical power without thermal control. The instability is 1.3/spl times/10/sup -10///spl radic/[/spl tau//(s)] for integration times /spl tau/ below 100 s. Applications for this device include distributed telecommunications systems, advanced Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers and laboratory instrumentation.

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