arXiv subjects

Qunfeng Chen

Publications and source records attributed to Qunfeng Chen.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Ytterbium lattice clock with uncertainty of $1.1\times 10^{-18}$ and instability of low $10^{-19}$

We report an optical lattice clock based on $^{171}$Yb atoms with a total systematic uncertainty of $1.1\times 10^{-18}$. In-vacuum buildup cavity was employed to enhance the lattice light power. Differential frequency measurement between two identical clocks facilitate the evaluation of systematic shifts. Synchronous comparison of the two clocks reached a stability level of $2.7\times 10^{-19}$ in an averaging time of 216,000 s. The magic frequency $\nu_{\mathrm{zero}}$ was determined to be 394 798 258.3(1) MHz. Under typical operating conditions, the lattice light shift is controlled at an uncertainty level of $3\times 10^{-19}$. The blackbody radiation (BBR) shield which is placed in vacuum provides a well-characterized BBR environment, enabling an uncertainty contribution of $8.7\times 10^{-19}$ from the BBR Stark shift. Other systematic shifts have also been evaluated. The two clocks will be used for remote frequency comparisons between Shanghai and Wuhan.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2025

First GNSS-deployed optical clock for local time scale upgrade

Precise time scale is the universal base for all measurements. Here we report the deployment of a compact and transportable optical clock to a timekeeping institution and steering an active hydrogen maser to generate an optical time scale, realizing the upgrade of the local time scale in the Global Navigation Satellite System. The optical clock was transported over 1200 km by express delivery and resume work as normal promptly, and its extremely high uptime of 93.6% in the half-year enabled us to precisely correct the frequency drift of hydrogen maser, ultimately achieving an unprecedented monthly instability of 4E-17. This steering experiment with a deployable optical clock marks a significant advancement, demonstrating that a timing accuracy below 100 ps per month can be achieved feasibly in various timekeeping institutions where hydrogen masers are typically employed as the primary contributor to timekeeping. In the future, mobile optical time scale based on such transportable optical clock can be deployed flexibly and rapidly, which is particularly important in scenarios lacking International Atomic Time reference.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2025

Towards a compact transportable optical clock based on the octupole transition in 171Yb+

Optical clocks have extremely attractive applications in many fields, including time-frequency metrology, validation of fundamental physical principles, and relativistic geodesy. The 467 nm octupole transition in 171Yb+ ion exhibits intrinsic insensitivity to magnetic field and an ultra-long clock state lifetime of 1.6 years. In addition, the entire laser system can be realized by semiconductor technologies, rendering this platform uniquely advantageous for developing high-precision, compact and transportable optical clocks. Here, we report the development of a compact optical clock based on the 467 nm transition of a single 171Yb+ ion. Using a narrow linewidth 467 nm laser to interrogate the clock transition, we obtain a near-Fourier-limited linewidth of 2.3 Hz in an integrated ion trapping system. Self-comparison demonstrated a frequency instability of 2.2E-15/sqrt(tau/s) with an interrogation time of 180 ms, which reaches the high parts in E-18 level with an averaging time of only one day. These work laid the technical foundation for the subsequent clock systematic evaluation and the packaging of each subsystem into an engineering prototype with high-precision at the level of E-18.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2025

Compact and robust design of the optical system for cold atom interferometer in space

The optical system is a complex and precise subsystem for the atom interferometer (AI), especially for those used in field or space applications. Here, we introduce the design of the optical system of the China Space Station atom interferometer (CSSAI). The scheme is optimized to reduce the complexity while maintaining the capability to achieve the dual-species AI. It features a fused silica optical bench with bonding technology, ensuring compactness and smaller thermal deformation. Spatial structures are designed to isolate the vibration and transfer the heat. After assembling, the optical system has a size of 250 mm * 240 mm * 104 mm and weighs 5.2 kg. After installing in the CSSAI, it passed the thermal and mechanical tests and then launched to the China Space Station (CSS). The output laser power changes are less than 15% from ground to space, and its long-term fluctuations are less than 2.5% for months in space. Cold atom preparation and interference are also realized in space. This optical system is extremely integrated and robust, which provides a foundation for the design of future cold atom payloads in space.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2024

Realization of cold atom gyroscope in space

High-precision gyroscopes in space are essential for fundamental physics research and navigation. Due to its potential high precision, the cold atom gyroscope is expected to be the next generation of gyroscopes in space. Here, we report the first realization of a cold atom gyroscope, which was demonstrated by the atom interferometer installed in the China Space Station (CSS) as a payload. By compensating for CSS's high dynamic rotation rate using a built-in piezoelectric mirror, spatial interference fringes in the interferometer are successfully obtained. Then, the optimized ratio of the Raman laser's angles is derived, the coefficients of the piezoelectric mirror are self-calibrated in orbit, and various systemic effects are corrected. We achieve a rotation measurement resolution of 50*10^-6 rad/s for a single shot and 17*10^-6 rad/s for an average number of 32. The measured rotation is (-1142+/-29)*10^-6 rad/s and is compatible with that recorded by the classical gyroscope of the CSS. This study paves the way for developing high-precision cold atom gyroscopes in space.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2023

The space cold atom interferometer for testing the equivalence principle in the China Space Station

The precision of the weak equivalence principle (WEP) test using atom interferometers (AIs) is expected to be extremely high in microgravity environment. The microgravity scientific laboratory cabinet (MSLC) in the China Space Station (CSS) can provide a higher-level microgravity than the CSS itself, which provides a good experimental environment for scientific experiments that require high microgravity. We designed and realized a payload of a dual-species cold rubidium atom interferometer. The payload is highly integrated and has a size of 460 mm * 330 mm * 260 mm. It will be installed in the MSLC to carry out high-precision WEP test experiment. In this article, we introduce the constraints and guidelines of the payload design, the compositions and functions of the scientific payload, the expected test precision in space, and some results of the ground test experiments

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2023

Absolute frequency measurements with a robust, transportable ^{40}Ca^{+} optical clock

We constructed a transportable 40Ca+ optical clock (with an estimated minimum systematic shift uncertainty of 1.3*10^(-17) and a stability of 5*10^(-15)/sqrt{tau} ) that can operate outside the laboratory. We transported it from the Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan to the National Institute of Metrology, Beijing. The absolute frequency of the 729 nm clock transition was measured for up to 35 days by tracing its frequency to the second of International System of Units. Some improvements were implemented in the measurement process, such as the increased effective up-time of 91.3 % of the 40Ca+ optical clock over a 35-day-period, the reduced statistical uncertainty of the comparison between the optical clock and hydrogen maser, and the use of longer measurement times to reduce the uncertainty of the frequency traceability link. The absolute frequency measurement of the 40Ca+ optical clock yielded a value of 411042129776400.26 (13) Hz with an uncertainty of 3.2*10^(-16), which is reduced by a factor of 1.7 compared with our previous results. As a result of the increase in the operating rate of the optical clock, the accuracy of 35 days of absolute frequency measurement can be comparable to the best results of different institutions in the world based on different optical frequency measurements.

physics.atom-ph↗