PHARAO laser source flight model: Design and performances

T. Lévèque , B. Faure , F. Esnault , C. Delaroche , D. Massonnet (1) , O. Grosjean (1) , F. Buffe (1) , P. Torresi , T. Bomer , A. Pichon (2) , P. Béraud , J. Lelay , S. Thomin , Ph. Laurent (3)

1 CNES - Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse]
2 SHOM - Service Hydrographique et Océanographique de la Marine
3 SYRTE - Systèmes de Référence Temps Espace

In this paper, we describe the design and the main performances of the PHARAO laser source flight model. PHARAO is a laser cooled cesium clock specially designed for operation in space and the laser source is one of the main sub-systems. The flight model presented in this work is the first remote-controlled laser system designed for spaceborne cold atom manipulation. The main challenges arise from mechanical compatibility with space constraints, which impose a high level of compactness, a low electric power consumption, a wide range of operating temperature, and a vacuum environment. We describe the main functions of the laser source and give an overview of the main technologies developed for this instrument. We present some results of the qualification process. The characteristics of the laser source flight model, and their impact on the clock performances, have been verified in operational conditions

Mots clés: Physics - Atomic Physics; Physics - Optics

Domaines: Planète et Univers [physics]; Astrophysique [astro-ph]; Physique [physics]

T. Lévèque, B. Faure, F. Esnault, C. Delaroche, D. Massonnet, et al.. PHARAO laser source flight model: Design and performances. Review of Scientific Instruments, 2015, 86 (3), pp.033104. ⟨10.1063/1.4914025⟩. ⟨hal-02448911⟩