ORACL (Optical Rubidium Atomic CLock)

Modern infrastructure is increasingly dependent on highly accurate timing. This ranges across navigation systems on multiple platforms, the delivery of power throughout the national grid, and timestamping of financial transactions though MiFID II regulations to name but a few. The demand for highly accurate timekeeping across ever larger systems is growing with the uptake of new technologies, and access to less expensive and more resilient timing sources will drive further innovation.

Accurate timing is typically disseminated over large distances via the global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), which has made GNSS the backbone of modern-day systems, being described as the "invisible utility". While GNSS continues to deliver precise timing to millions, our over-reliance on a single system is of great concern (Blackett Review, Satellite-derived time and position, 2018). In the absence of GNSS-derived timing, local timing references are required. While efforts are underway to improve both the performance and SWAP-C of conventional microwave-based frequency references, the improvements are marginal. Quantum Optical atomic clock technology has been demonstrated to provide a step-change in capability in numerous basic and applied research settings and is well suited for the long-term stability demands of next-generation PNT systems. Until now, quantum optical atomic clocks have not been possible to commercialise due to their technical complexity and the immaturity of the required laser systems within the optical supply chain.

Infleqtion has developed an optical atomic clock demonstrator with a 6U 19" rack form factor which has demonstrated frequency stability performance surpassing the state-of-the-art microwave-based frequency references. Within this project, we will use knowledge gained from initial testing of this demonstrator to create a robust, field deployable optical rubidium atomic clock - ORACL. In addition, CQUK will develop the capability to produce critical subsystems, such as optical frequency combs, to ensure sovereign capability in this sector.