Zero-dead-time operation of interleaved atomic clocks

Phys Rev Lett. 2013 Oct 25;111(17):170802. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.111.170802. Epub 2013 Oct 25.

Abstract

We demonstrate a zero-dead-time operation of atomic clocks. This clock reduces sensitivity to local oscillator noise, integrating as nearly 1/τ whereas a clock with dead time integrates as 1/τ(1/2) under identical conditions. We contend that a similar scheme may be applied to improve the stability of optical clocks.