The space program PHARAO/ACES

Ph. Laurent; M. Abgrall; A. Clairon; P. Lemonde; G. Santarelli; C. Salomon; F. Picard; C. Sirmain; D. Massonnet; L. Cacciapuoti

doi:10.1117/12.733915

12 September 2007 The space program PHARAO/ACES

Ph. Laurent, M. Abgrall, A. Clairon, P. Lemonde, G. Santarelli, C. Salomon, F. Picard, C. Sirmain, D. Massonnet, L. Cacciapuoti

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 6673, Time and Frequency Metrology; 667308 (2007) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.733915
Event: Optical Engineering + Applications, 2007, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The ACES (as Atomic Clock Ensemble in Space) mission, managed by the European Space Agency, has three main objectives. The first one deals with the operation and study of the laser cooled cesium clock PHARAO (as Projet d'Horloge Atomique à Refroidissement d'Atomes en Orbite) to reach a frequency accuracy of 10^-16 in space. The second one is to perform fundamental metrology by comparing the clock signal with ground based clocks via a two way time transfer link. The third one is to perform fundamental physics tests such as a new measurement of the red shift at 2 parts per million and a search for variations of fundamental physical constants. The expected time transfer resolution is 0.3 ps at 300 seconds and 7 ps per day. An H-maser developed by the Observatoire Cantonal de Neuchatel is the second ACES clock and will be used as a stable frequency reference for mid term duration. We give an overview of the ACES mission and its operation and present the first results obtained with the engineering model of the laser cooled cesium clock PHARAO. This model is first developed to validate the flight model design.

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Ph. Laurent, M. Abgrall, A. Clairon, P. Lemonde, G. Santarelli, C. Salomon, F. Picard, C. Sirmain, D. Massonnet, and L. Cacciapuoti "The space program PHARAO/ACES", Proc. SPIE 6673, Time and Frequency Metrology, 667308 (12 September 2007); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.733915

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