OU68-FY26-493-NEW Requirements and Specifications_chronos.docx

Requirements / Specification Document

Use this document to detail specifications/requirements for an item and/or ancillary services.

TITLE: High-performance optical atomic clocks to contribute to official US time.

Requesting Lab/Division/Group: PML/Time and Frequency 688/Time realization and distribution 688.40 General Statement of Need NIST seeks two high-performance, robust optical atomic clock to integrate into the timescale in Boulder, Colorado that generates UTC(NIST), NIST’s realization of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). This high-stability clock will augment an ensemble of microwave atomic clocks and receive high relative weight in the UTC(NIST) computation algorithm, thereby reducing reliance on microwave standards. NIST requires units that can support timescale instabilities of 0.1 ns/day while providing excellent short term stability. NIST seeks robust systems that can operate with minimal input from technical staff. In particular, the clock performance should be minimally affected by environmental fluctuations, greatly reducing the demands on NIST staff to maintain highly controlled environmental conditions and increasing the resiliency of UTC(NIST) should facility environmental control be unexpectedly lost. Beyond improving holdover capabilities of UTC(NIST), the high-stability RF signals from the clock will directly benefit experiments that require excellent short-term performance such as precision atomic and molecular spectroscopy, optical clock comparison and dimensional metrology.

Items and/or Ancillary Services

Item 1: Optical atomic clock system Quantity: 2 Specifications: 1.1 System accomplishes frequency discipline of an oscillator to an atomic or molecular spectroscopic transition, basic demonstrations of which are documented by at least two published research studies in technical journals or conference proceedings. 1.2 Clock outputs at any or all of the nominal frequencies: 5 MHz, 10 MHz, 100 MHz, 1 GHz 1.3 Radio frequency outputs terminate in SMA-female connectors as single-ended sinusoidal signals matched into 50 Ohm transmission lines and loads, with amplitudes no less than +5 dBm. 1.4 Optical output of stabilized continuous-wave laser, coupled in a single-mode polarization-maintaning fiber and terminated as an FC/APC fiber-optic connector. Optical wavelength is between 1000 nm and 1625 nm and optical power is greater than 0.1 mW. 1.5 Short term frequency instability of all outputs (optical- and radio-frequency), expessed as the Allan deviation (ADEV) at 1-second average intervals, should be less than 1E-13. The ADEV after 100,000s of averaging (approx. 1 day) should be below 8E-15. 1.6 Electrical power dissipation less than 150 W among all components contributing to clock stability. For example, if powered by a remote power supply, power dissipation in control or power-supply components do not count towards the 150 W limit. Requirement applies after any specified warm-up interval, and should assume an ambient temperature between 20 °C and 25 °C, relative humidity between 40% RH and 50% RH. 1.7 Total power dissipation of system must be less than 500 W and have no additional cooling requirements beyond placement in still air. 1.8 System power input accepts 110-120 V ac, 60 Hz, IEC 60320 C13 connector or equivalent. 1.9 Physical dimensions: systems must be compatible with mounting within industry standard 19-inch (482.6 mm) rack enclosures (e.g. industry standard EIA-310-D). Excluding a front panel with compatible fasteners or mounting holes, the system width must be less than 450.85 mm. The system depth must be less than 760 mm. The total system height must be less than 267 mm (“6U” in 19-inch rack spacing). 1.10 Integrated control and monitoring functions. System must include all elements necessary for maintaining continuous oscillator locking, and diagnostic monitoring of the clock health. System must include a digital command/control interface over standard serial (e.g. USB, RS232 or other UART) or network (e.g. Ethernet LAN) formats. Additionally, system must include all elements necessary for discipline and monitoring of the system responsible for optical-to-microwave translation. 1.11 Frequency accuracy and adjustability. The nominal frequencies in Specification 1.2 must be accurate to a fractional inaccuracy of 1E-11 upon delivery. This requirement is waived if the system allows digital adjustment of the output frequency with a minimum step size no larger than 1E-16. All clock outputs, optical- and radio-frequency, must remain mutually coherent with any tuning. 1.12 Optical output of stabilized femtosecond-laser frequency comb (fs-comb), terminated in FC/APC female fiber optic coupler. Output spectrum need not be octave-spanning but should represent the stabilized fs-comb oscillator. Fs-comb pulse repetition rate is subject to the ADEV requirements in Specification 1.5 above. Fs-comb pulse repetition rate does not have to represent one of the nominal frequencies named in Specification 1.2 above. 1.13 Environmental Sensitivity. A change of the ambient temperature of 1 degree Celsius should fractionally change the RF and optical frequency by less than 1E-14. Similarly, a change in the ambient relative humidity (RH) by 1%, should should fractionally change RF and optical frequency by less than 1E-15.

Separately Priced Options and Services:

Item 2: Redundant DC power input for clock Quantity: 1 Specifications: Auxillary direct-current (DC) power input for clock system, accepting 18V – 30V. No clock disturbance must result from either AC or DC power sources being disconnected if the other is present and stable. If this option is offered, Specification 1.6 above will be waived.

[List any other item(s) or service requirements here using the same format above.]

Service Requirements / Item Specifications

Planning Considerations ☒ N/A ☐ List any visits required to allow potential vendors to see site specific constraints.

[Explain requirement here] ☐ US citizen required on-site (foreign nationals require preregistration 30 days prior) ☐ Vendor rep on-site more than three days ☐ Other considerations: [List other considerations to ensure an accurate quote]

Shipping & Delivery ☐ N/A [Enter shipping and delivery information by item here.] Shipping criteria:

☐ Partial delivery acceptable ☐ Direct delivery to building required [Explain need for requirement here] Building has: ☐ Loading dock ☐ Containerization preference: [Choose container] Other requirements: [List any other requirements here] Delivery date criteria:

☒ Delivery of goods, installation, and training shall be completed no later than: 12 Weeks ARO ☐ Deliver no earlier than: [Insert date here] ☐ Other: [List other shipping, delivery, or specil requirements]

Electronic Media ☐ N/A [Enter electronic media requirements by item here.] ☐ Software ☒ Electronic manuals ☐ License Key ☐ Other: [List any other Electronic Media requirements here] [Enter email address for software delivery here]

Installation ☒ N/A [Enter installation requirements by item here.] ☐ Vendor technician on site ☐ Rigging ☐ Uncrating / Unpackaging ☐ Removal of packaging material ☐ Equipment set up ☐ Start-up services ☐ Turn key installation ☐ Other [Enter details here.] Note: When installation is required, TPOC or COR shall be the coordination point.

Facility / Utility Considerations ☒ N/A [List site specific utility considerations by item here.] ☐ OFPM Work Order Number(s) [List any Work Order Number(s) here] ☐ Power available Voltage: [Enter voltage here] (V) Max Current: [Enter max current draw here] (A) Phase: [Choose phase] Frequency: [Typically 60Hz] (Hz) NEMA Plug Type: [Enter plug type here] (i.e.: NEMA L5-20P) Environment: [Choose environment] Other power consideration: [List any other power considerations here] ☐ Utility connections: [List relevant available utilities, pressure(s), and flowrate(s)] ☐ Other considerations: [List other considerations to ensure an accurate quote]

Warranty ☐ N/A [Choose warranty type here.] [If you require an Extended Manufacturer Warranty, describe the warranty requirements per item here.] What is included?

☒ Labor ☒ Parts ☐ Travel ☐ Cost and liability for returns ☐ Other: [Enter other requirements here] ☒ Warranty length: 5 years Period Length:5 years

Training ☒ N/A [Training requirements (who, when, what, where) here. If on-site, is travel necessary?] ☐ On-site ☐ Off-site location: [Enter location(s) here] ☐ Number of trainees: [Enter number of trainees here] Scope of training:

☐ Operations ☐ Maintenance ☐ Troubleshooting ☐ Safety ☐ Other: [Enter other scope requirements here] ☐ Training materials to be provided: [Describe requirement here] ☐ Other: [Enter other training requirements here] Note: When training is required, TPOC or COR shall be the coordination point.

Inspection and Acceptance ☐ N/A [Enter inspection requirements per item here] ☐ Planned government acceptance testing (7 business days) ☒ Gov’t acceptance expected to take longer than 7 business days: 14 business days ☒ Inspection and acceptance plan: One of the clock’s radio frequency outputs will be characterized for Allan Deviation (ADEV) against NIST hydrogen maser clocks, the NIST ensemble time scale, and UTC(NIST) to estimate ADEV at 100,000 seconds. Additionally, NIST reserves the option to evaluate short term stability from 1-100 seconds by measuring the CW optical signal against a optical signal stabilized to a ultrastable Fabry-Perot cavity.

☐ Other: [Enter other requirements here]

Maintenance ☒ N/A [Describe your maintenance requirements per item here] Period Length: [Ex. month, 6 month, year etc.] What is included?

☐ Labor ☐ Spare parts ☐ Consumables ☐ Travel ☐ Cost and liability for returns ☐ Software updates ☐ Manuals ☐ Service plan length: [Enter service plan length here] ☐ Other: [Enter other requirements here] ☐ Requirements: [Enter requirements here] (i.e.: onsite within 72 hours, etc.)

Government Furnished Material / Equipment ☒ N/A [List any government furnished material/equipment per item here] ☐ Samples for testing ☐ Government equipment which will leave gov't site (TPOC must coordinate with division property custodian) Serial Number: [Enter Serial Number here] Description: [Enter description here] NIST property number: [Enter NIST property number here] ☐ Other: [Enter other details here]

Travel ☒ N/A [Describe any travel requirements per item here] ☐ Explain: [Explain here] ☐ Other: [Enter other requirements here] Vendor: To the maximum extent possible, include as part of appropriate sections above (maintenance, repair, etc.). Otherwise, it will be a separate line item, reimbursable per the Federal Travel Regulation.

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Requirements / Specifications: High-performance optical atomic clocks to contribute to official US time.

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