A compact, frequency stabilized laser head for optical pumping in space Rb clocks

We present the realization of a compact and frequency stabilized laser head operating on the D/sub 2/ line of rubidium. This laser head will be used for optical pumping in rubidium atomic frequency standards and has potential for space applications. The design is based on an external cavity diode laser stabilized to a saturated absorption spectroscopy reference line. The volume of the complete laser head physics package including the reference Rb vapor cell totals 200 cm/sup 3/ only. First performance measurements of a rubidium atomic clock using the laser head are presented.