Limitations of atomic beam frequency standards

Atomic beam frequency standards may be placed into two categories: field standards and laboratory standards. While this distinction is somewhat artificial, because the two types of standards are interdependent, each category does have different requirements of accuracy, size, and cost. Despite this separation, generally the developments which produce the best laboratory standards eventually give rise to improved field standards. Existing field standards are limited in long term fractional frequency stability to σ_y (τ) 3 x 10^-13, for τ 6 months. A laboratory standard such as NBS-6, the U.S. primary cesium standard, is limited in inaccuracy to Δ_y 8 x 10^-14. Proposed new cesium field standards are expected to yield long term stabilities of σ_y(τ) 1 x 10^-14 (τ = 6 months). Stored ion standards, prime candidates for new laboratory frequency standards, are expected to have better than Δy = 1 x 10^-15 inaccuracy. As other approaches to atomic beam frequency standards are considered, they should attempt to compete favorably with these emerging technologies.