Component-level demonstration of a microfabricated atomic frequency reference

We demonstrate component-level functionality of the three critical subsystems for a miniature atomic clock based on microfabrication techniques: the physics package, the local oscillator and the control electronics. In addition, we demonstrate that these three components operating together achieve a short-term frequency instability of 6times10-10/radictau, with a total volume below 10 cm 3 and a power dissipation below 200 mW

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