Quartz optical cells with alkali-metal vapour for aerospace

Abstract

Abstract This work for the first time analyses the impact of cosmic radiation on quartz cells with rubidium vapour and buffer gas, as well as the ensuing change in stability of atomic frequency standards (AFS) relying on such cells. It is demonstrated that the main effect consists in variation of partial pressure of nitrogen, which is a part of the buffer gas mix. This leads to degraded AFS stability. It was established by modelling that this effect is not significant because material degradation of the AFS stability is only likely to happen over a long period of time, as long as several decades. It can be concluded on the basis of the proposed analysis that a gas cell with rubidium vapour and buffer gas is the most reliable element of a satellite-borne AFS and that it is less affected by exposure to ionising radiation than electronic components of AFS.