Unprecedented precision and accuracy of quantum clocks for coherent radars.

Optical lattice clocks are becoming the frontiers in time keeping, increasing the precision by at least a factor of 1000 compared to standard Caesium atomic clocks. Optical lattice clocks are realized using transitions in ultra-cold atoms trapped in optical standing waves created using lasers. The extreme precision and accuracy in timing and stability make the optical lattice clocks an ideal candidate for many time keeping applications.

The key objectives of this Ph.D. are introducing quantum clocks in radar technology and assessing the resulting radar performance compared to traditional forms of clock. Radars have an immense number of civilian and military applications. One of the crucial factors in radar performance is the phase noise. This is manifest as the frequency stability associated with the local oscillator system from which all radar timing measurements are derived. The novel science to be addressed in this Ph.D. is reducing phase noise in radars using quantum clocks. This will result in radars with improved sensitivity enabling enhanced detection and tracking performance.

The methodology will include both simulations and experimentation so that relationships between component specifications and radar performance can be assessed and validated.