CROC: Compact Optical Atomic Clocks

Modern infrastructure is increasingly dependent on highly accurate timing. This ranges across navigation systems on multiple platforms, the delivery of power around the national grid, timestamping of financial transactions though MiFID II regulations to name but a few. The demand for highly accurate timekeeping across ever larger systems is growing with the uptake of new technologies, and access to cheaper and more resilient timing sources will drive further innovation.

Accurate timing is typically disseminated over large distances via the global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), which has made GNSS the backbone of modern-day systems, being described as the "invisible utility". While GNSS continues to deliver precise timing to millions, our over-reliance on a single system is of great concern (Blackett Review, Satellite-derived time and position, 2018). In the absence of GNSS-derived timing, local timing references are required. While efforts are underway to improve both the performance and SWaP-C of conventional microwave-based frequency references, the improvements are marginal. Quantum optical atomic clock technology has been demonstrated to provide a step-change in capability in numerous basic and applied research settings and is well suited for the long-term stability demands of next-generation PNT systems. Until now, quantum optical atomic clocks have not been possible to commercialise due to their technical complexity and the immaturity of the required laser systems within the optical supply chain.

Infleqtion is commercialising a field-deployable optical atomic clock named Tiqker Prime with a 3U-19" form-factor. This project will develop critical subsystems to enable a route to a reduced SWaP-C of Tiqker. In addition, it will enable the establishment of critical supply chains within the UK.