title: A highly miniaturized vacuum package for a trapped ion atomic clock.
abstract: We report on the development of a highly miniaturized vacuum package for use in an atomic clock utilizing trapped ytterbium-171 ions. The vacuum package is approximately 1 cm(3) in size and contains a linear quadrupole RF Paul ion trap, miniature neutral Yb sources, and a non-evaporable getter pump. We describe the fabrication process for making the Yb sources and assembling the vacuum package. To prepare the vacuum package for ion trapping, it was evacuated, baked at a high temperature, and then back filled with a helium buffer gas. Once appropriate vacuum conditions were achieved in the package, it was sealed with a copper pinch-off and was subsequently pumped only by the non-evaporable getter. We demonstrated ion trapping in this vacuum package and the operation of an atomic clock, stabilizing a local oscillator to the 12.6 GHz hyperfine transition of (171)Y b(+). The fractional frequency stability of the clock was measured to be 2 × 10(-11)/τ(1/2).
authors.affiliation: Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185, USA.
authors.forename: Peter D D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Schwindt
authors.affiliation: Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185, USA.
authors.forename: Yuan-Yu
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Jau
authors.affiliation: Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185, USA.
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Partner
authors.affiliation: Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185, USA.
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Casias
authors.affiliation: Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185, USA.
authors.forename: Adrian R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.affiliation: Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moorman
authors.affiliation: Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185, USA.
authors.forename: Ronald P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Manginell
authors.affiliation: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California 91109, USA.
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Kellogg
authors.affiliation: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California 91109, USA.
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Prestage