At the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Boulder, Colo., researchers have developed a 12-mm3 atomic clock based on the D1 line in rubidium-87 that may find applications in mobile communications and navigation systems. The instrument, which they describe in the Feb. 21 issue of Optics Express, displays superior short- and long-term stability compared with their first, recently reported clock, which was based on the D2 transition in cesium. The clock features a 1-mm3 cell filled with rubidium vapor, into which heating elements, an optics assembly, a near-IR vertical-cavity...Read full articleRelated content from Photonics MediaArticlesPhotonics-Based Oscillator Provides Precise Signals on Compact ChipMany technologies — from communications, to radar and sensing, to positioning and navigation — rely on low-noise microwave signals for precise timing and synchronization. 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Two-dimensional FPAs (InGaAs, InSb, and MCT) and Integrated Dewar Cooler Assemblies (IDCAs)...Photonics Buyers' GuideAndor TechnologyAndor Technology Ltd is a global developer and manufacturer of high-performance scientific cameras, microscopy systems and spectrographs for academic, government, and industrial applications. Founded...Photonics Buyers' GuideBAE Systems Sensor SolutionsExpanding upon the storied Fairchild Imaging legacy, we offer a wide range of imaging devices that provide our customers with top performance and key features for the most demanding applications. Our...Photonics Buyers' Guide