Use of cold cesium atoms in quantum frequency standards

The results of studies devoted to the development of a new generation quantum frequency standard, a cesium fountain, are presented. The experimental data obtained upon manipulation and detection of cold atoms are analysed. The cooling of cesium atoms down to about 2 μK is demonstrated experimentally. The populations of hyperfine-structure components of cesium atoms are calculated by the method of adiabatic passage for different microwave pulses.