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arXiv · 1502.06376

PHARAO Laser Source Flight Model: Design and Performances

Thomas Lévèque·Benoit Faure·François-Xavier Esnault·Christophe Delaroche·Didier Massonnet·Olivier Grosjean·Fabrice Buffe·Patrizia Torresi·Thierry Bomer·Alexandre Pichon·Pascal Béraud·Jean-Pierre Lelay·Stéphane Thomin·Philippe Laurent
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Abstract

In this paper, we describe the design and the main performances of the PHARAO laser source flight model. PHARAO is a laser cooled cesium clock specially designed for operation in space and the laser source is one of the main sub-systems. The flight model presented in this work is the first remote-controlled laser system designed for spaceborne cold atom manipulation. The main challenges arise from mechanical compatibility with space constraints, which impose a high level of compactness, a low electric power consumption, a wide range of operating temperature and a vacuum environment. We describe the main functions of the laser source and give an overview of the main technologies developed for this instrument. We present some results of the qualification process. The characteristics of the laser source flight model, and their impact on the clock performances, have been verified in operational conditions.

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Thomas Lévèque, Benoit Faure, François-Xavier Esnault, Christophe Delaroche, Didier Massonnet, Olivier Grosjean, Fabrice Buffe, Patrizia Torresi, Thierry Bomer, Alexandre Pichon, Pascal Béraud, Jean-Pierre Lelay, Stéphane Thomin, Philippe Laurent. 2015-02-23. PHARAO Laser Source Flight Model: Design and Performances. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4914025

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