MEMS and Package for Chip-Scale Integration for Atomic Clocks

PIs: Y. C. Lee (PI), Victor M. Bright (Co-PI), Zoya Popovic (Co-PI)
Students: Yuan-Jen Chang (Richard), Alexander Laws, Milos Jankovic

Project field/specialty:

Project Description:

Chip-scale atomic clocks (CSAC) are being developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) at Boulder with an emphasis on the development of ultra-miniaturized cesium cells. The development of CSAC will enable ultra-miniaturized and ultra-low power time and frequency references for high-security ultra-high frequency (UHF) communication and jam-resistant global positioning system (GPS) receivers. The ultra-stable frequency reference from atomic sources will drastically improve channel selectivity and density for all military communications. In surveillance applications, CSAC can be used to improve resolution in Doppler radars and to enhance accuracy of location identification of radio emitters. Other important uses include missile and munitions guidance, robust electronic and information defense networks, and high-confidence identification of friends and foes.

This study will focus on MEMS and packaging activities for the atomic clocks. With the Cesium cells integrated with optical and RF units using MEMS and advanced packaging technologies, we will be able to demonstrate an atomic time and frequency reference units with a size of 10mm x 10mm x 2mm (0.2 cm3) and a power dissipation level less than 200 mW while providing frequency accuracy on the order of +/- 1 x 10 -11 (Allen deviation at one-hour integration time).

Funding Source: DARPA

Publications:

• Y.J. Chang, S. Lee, A. Brannon, A.D. Laws, J. Breitbarth, Z. Popovic, V.M. Bright, and Y. C. Lee, "MEMS and Packaging for Chip-Scale Atomic Clocks" Proceedings of IMAPS Conference and Exhibition on Ceramic Interconnect Technology, April 26-28, 2004 , Denver, Colorado, pp.121-pp.126.
• A. D. Laws, Y.J. Chang, V. M. Bright, Y. C. Lee, "Thermal Management for Chip Scale Atomic Clocks," Proceedings of ASME-interPACK '05, San Francisco, CA, July 17-22, 2005.
• A. D. Laws, Y.J. Chang, V. M. Bright, Y. C. Lee, "Thermal Conduction Switch for Thermal Management for Chip Scale Atomic Clocks," Accepted for presentation at IMECE 2006, Chicago, IL, November, 5-10, 2006.
• A. Laws, R. Y.J. Chang, V.M. Bright, and Y.C.Lee "Bimetallic Buckling Disk for Thermal Management of Chip Scale Atomic Clocks", 15th U.S. National Congress on Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, Boulder, CO, June 25-30, 2006.
• A. Laws, R. Y.J. Chang, V.M. Bright, and Y.C.Lee "Heat Switch for Low Power Thermal Management of Chip Scale Atomic Clocks", 20th Eurosensors Confference, Goteburg, Sweeden, September 17th-20th, 2006.
• A. Brannon, J. Breitbarth, Z. Popovic, "A low-power, low phase noise local oscillator for chip-scale atomic clocks," 2005 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium Digest, vol. 12-17, pp. 1535-1538, June 2005.
• A. Brannon, M. Jankovic, J. Breitbarth, Z. Popovic, V. Gerginov, V. Shah, S. Knappe, L. Hollberg, J. Kitching, "A local oscillator for chip-scale atomic clocks at NIST," Proc. of IEEE Intnl. Frequency Control Symposium, In Press, June, 2006.
• A. Brannon, J. Breitbarth, M. Jankovic, Z. Popovic, "Low-power, low phase noise local oscillators for chip-scale atomic clocks," Submitted to IEEE MTT Transactions.

Last Updated: February 2008