The NRC-FCs2 primary frequency standard at the National Research Council Canada

Abstract

At the National Research Council Canada, we are performing final assembly and initial testing of our new atomic fountain clock, NRC-FCs2. This fountain clock incorporates several improvements in the optical, microwave, and computer systems from our previous generation clock, NRC-FCs1, as well as a new physics package designed at the National Physical Laboratory (UK). With these changes, NRC-FCs2 is expected to reach uncertainties < 5×10−16. We will discuss the recent improvements made in the various subsystems of NRC-FCs2 and present preliminary results in its evaluation.