ABSTRACT Frequency noise of the local oscillator at even harmonics of the modulation frequency is known to contribute to the short-term instability of passive frequency standards [1]-[3]. The mechanism by which this noise transfer takes place in Rb-cell standards is described here in a comprehensive approach that includes both signal theory methods [3] and a time-dependent quantum mechanical analysis. The resulting calculated transfer coefficients for the various even harmonics are discussed in relationship with measured coefficients in an actual experiment [2].
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