NAVISP-EL1-131-CHIP SCALE OPTICAL ATOMIC CLOCK FOR PNT APPLICATIONS EXPRO+

Development of a compact optical atomic clock module (physics package) for PNT applications. The activity will design, manufacture,and test an Engineering Model (EM) of a chip-scale optical clock exploiting an atomic optical transition to achieve 10 improved stability (target timing drift 10-30 ns/day) versus existing microwave clocks. The clock will provide a stabilized optical frequencyoutput in a low-power (< 5 W), compact device. Tasks include detailed thermo-mechanical design for robust operation in harsh environments, definition of low-power control electronics requirements and autonomous operation algorithms, assembly of the optical clock physics package, and development of Electrical Ground Support Equipment (EGSE) to control and test the EM. The EM will undergo performance verification in ambient and thermal conditions to demonstrate its stability, targeting TRL 4-5 and paving the way for future space-qualified ultra-stable timing solutions for navigation and timing systems.