PHARAO TECHNOLOGICAL AND COMPONENTS DEVELOPMENT FOR A HIGH PERFORMANCE LASER

摘要

In the frame of the French-CNES-led PHARAO space based cold atom clock, EADS SODERN isrndeveloping two main subsystems: an Ultra-Vacuum Cesium Tube in which atoms interact withrnmicrowave and laser beams, and a compact high performing near infrared Laser Source that providesrnthe required laser beams for the atoms interactions.rnThe expected performances of the Laser Source, together with the interface and environmentalrnconstraints, require specific technological and components developments: extended cavity lasers,rnslave lasers, acousto-optic modulators, piezo-motors, mechanisms, optical fiber links ... have beenrnspecifically developed and space qualified.rnDeveloping those key components is a challenge in terms of weight and compactness, reliability,rnperformance under both air and vacuum, and behavior under harsh environmental constraints.rnFunctional mock-ups have been realized, characterized and pre-qualified. Flight models are nowrnunder development.rnThe paper recalls the PHARAO experiment and describes the Laser Source and its key components.rnIt gives their development status.