HRL researchers have developed a reversible alkali atom source that runs at low power and low voltage, which is beneficial in applications such as smaller, more efficient, and ultimately portable atomic clocks that use cold atoms.
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has awarded HRL Laboratories, LLC, $ 1.5 million to develop an ultra-low power oven controlled crystal oscillator (OCXO) for use as a frequency reference for new high-performance, low-power atomic clocks.