Investigation of the Limiting Short-Term Instability of the Output Signal of a Passive Hydrogen Frequency Standard

Abstract

The limiting short-term frequency instability of the output signal of a passive hydrogen frequency and time standard is calculated. A technique for experimental measurement of the figure of merit of a quantum discriminator is set forth. The frequency instability of the standard is estimated on the basis of the obtained data. The effect of spectral line splitting of a maser with increasing excitation signal discovered in the course of the study represents an obstacle against achieving any decrease in the instability of the standard.