JPS5846890B2 - atomic oscillator - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] The present invention relates to atomic oscillators.

Atomic oscillators, which automatically control the frequency of a crystal oscillator based on the resonant frequencies of atoms and molecules, are used as high-precision frequency generation sources because of their excellent long-term frequency stability.

The present invention relates to a lighting sequence of a light source lamp for optical pumping of an atomic oscillator using optical pumping light.

Optical pumping lamps generally emit high-frequency discharge light using an exciter of several tens of MHz to one hundred MHz.

This lighting method includes a method in which discharge is started by forcibly applying a high-voltage pulse of several thousand ports, a so-called start pulse, or a method in which the lamp cell is excited with sufficient power to start discharge.

However, as the excitation power of the lamp increases, the long-term stability of the temperature characteristics of the atomic oscillator generally deteriorates, and the life of the lamp becomes shorter, so it is desirable that the excitation power be as small as possible.

Therefore, the former method of applying high voltage pulses only when lighting is
Although this method has the disadvantage of requiring a start pulse generation circuit, it is advantageous in achieving long life and high reliability of the lamp because the lamp can be excited with relatively weak excitation power.

The present invention provides a method for efficiently operating a start pulse generation circuit in an atomic oscillator having such a start pulse generation circuit.

FIG. 1 shows a conventional lamp lighting system.

In this figure, 1 is a start pulse generation circuit, 2 is a lamp, 3 is a filter, 4 is a cavity, 5 is a gas cell, and 6
is an atomic resonator,? , 8.9 is a temperature controller that controls the temperature of the constant temperature bath, and 10 is a resonance signal.

The start pulse generating circuit 1 is designed to generate one pulse at intervals of several seconds to several tens of seconds, taking into account the case where the lamp 2 cannot be lit with one start pulse, and once the lamp 2 is lit, the lamp 2 is turned on. Since the start pulse is unnecessary unless 2 disappears, in a normal atomic oscillator, the control system is configured to stop the operation of the start pulse generation circuit 1 when an atomic resonance signal is obtained and the atomic oscillator enters normal operation. .

In such a configuration, for example, the start pulse generator 1 continues to operate during the so-called worm amplifier period (usually about 20 to 40 minutes) from when the power is turned on to the atomic oscillator until it starts normal operation. This may cause damage to the contacts.

Furthermore, in a generating circuit that generates high-voltage pulses in a process called local oscillation rectification step-nap, this large voltage oscillation may have an adverse effect on the control system.

In order to eliminate such drawbacks, the present invention controls the operation of a start pulse generation circuit during warm-up, and includes a start pulse generation circuit for lighting a pumping lamp and an atomic oscillator equipped with a constant temperature chamber. A detection circuit is provided to detect the heater voltage of the bath, and the detection circuit outputs a signal indicating that the temperature inside the constant temperature bath has stabilized, and the start pulse generation circuit is operated by the output of the signal. It is characterized by the following.

The fact that the atomic oscillator does not start operating normally is equivalent to the fact that the internal temperature of several thermostatic chambers used internally has not reached the stable range. Therefore, in the present invention, the heater voltage of these thermostatic chambers is It was decided that the start pulse generator would be operated only after the stable state was detected.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the present invention.

In this figure, 1 to 10 are parts having the same functions as in FIG. 1, and are given the same numbers as in FIG. 1.

11 is a detection circuit that detects an output signal of a temperature controller that controls the temperature of the thermostatic oven.

This detection circuit 11 detects a stable temperature state within the thermostatic oven.

In this embodiment, the heater voltage of the atomic resonator 6 (cavity) which has the longest warm-up time, that is, has the largest heat capacity among the thermostatic chambers, is detected.

When this constant temperature chamber is in a stable state, the temperatures of all other constant temperature chambers are under control, so when the start pulse generation circuit operates and the lamp lights up, the atomic oscillator will instantly reach normal operation. .

If such a system is incorporated into a conventional control system for stopping the start pulse generator 1, the operation of the start pulse generator 1 can be restricted to a minimum.

Therefore, defects such as damage to relay contacts can be eliminated, and the atomic oscillator can be highly stabilized and highly reliable.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 shows a conventional embodiment, and FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a start pulse generation circuit, 2 is a lamp, 3 is a filter, 4 is a cavity, 5 is a gas cell, 6 is an atomic resonator, 7, 8.9 is a temperature controller, 10 is a resonance signal, and 11 is a detection Shows the circuit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In an atomic oscillator equipped with a start pulse generation circuit for lighting a pumping lamp and a constant temperature chamber, a detection circuit for detecting the heater voltage of the constant temperature chamber is installed, and the internal temperature of the constant temperature chamber is determined by the detection circuit. 1. An atomic oscillator, characterized in that the atomic oscillator outputs a signal indicating that the start pulse generating circuit is stabilized, and operates the start pulse generating circuit by outputting the signal.