Characteristics Analysis of Different Models of Quantum Frequency Standard on Mercury-199 Ions

New trends in the development of navigation systems and the tasks to be solved using global navigation satellite systems, as well as the creation of the basis for deep space exploration have forced changes in the requirements for quantum frequency standards, especially in terms of frequency stability without communication sessions with the Earth. The corresponding new requirement quantum frequency standard is the quantum frequency standard on mercury-199 ions. This is now the most promising frequency standard for space systems, especially for deep space exploration. To determine the directions of modernization of the design of the quantum frequency standard on mercury-199 ions (by the new requirements), we collected and summarized information about the current research of the quantum frequency standard on mercury-199 ions in different countries of the world (USA, Russia, European Union, and China). For the first time, we performed an extended analysis comparing the characteristics of different models of quantum frequency standard on mercury-199 ions, which differ mainly in the ion traps and light sources for the excitation of mercury-202. The analysis of the technical characteristic of the quantum frequency standard on the mercury-199 ions, as well as our data on calculations of ion trap design with different electrode configurations, showed that long-term stability (10
⁵
s) of the USA and Chinese models is an order of magnitude higher than that of the Russian and European Union models. The data are comparable in terms of short-term stability at the initial stage of operation. This confirmed our calculations from the parameters of the traps on the effect of electrode fabrication technologies on frequency stability. At present, this problem has not received adequate consideration in the world.