Study on the Effect of Excitation Circuit of Spectral Lamp on the Temperature Coefficient of Physics Package of Rubidium Atomic Clock

Abstract As one of the important factors affecting the long-term frequency stability of Rubidium atomic frequency standards (RAFS), the temperature coefficient has a great influence on the performance of RAFS. The temperature coefficient of physics package has an important influence on the temperature coefficient of rubidium atomic clock. The instability of temperature is often the most important error term of RAFS. The variation of temperature to several degrees means a month’s aging. As an important part of rubidium atomic clock physics package, the Lamp Excitation Circuit directly affects the voltage adaptation area and temperature coefficient of Rubidium gas cell physics package. In order to satisfy the long-term frequency stability and adapt extraterrestrial environment, we propose the improvements of Lamp Excitation Circuit in physics package of Rubidium Atomic Clock, since minute current change of Lamp Excitation Circuit are mapped onto the clock’s long-term frequency stability, and the stabilization of the lamp excitation circuit has the potential to significantly improve the RAFS’ long-term frequency stability and temperature coefficient. We demonstrate that the temperature coefficient of physics package can be reduced obviously by improved Lamp Excitation Circuit. Suggesting that performance of the RAFS could be improved greatly further.