The Cesium Physics Package Design for the PARCS Experiment

The Primary Atomic Reference Clock in Space (PARCS) is a collaboration between the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and the University of Colorado to build a laser-cooled cesium-beam atomic clock as a science payload for the International Space Station (ISS). The three primary goals of the PARCS experiment are (1) to demonstrate laser cooling of atoms in space, (2) to use laser cooling to build the most accurate space clock, and (3) to use the clock to test fundamental assumptions and predictions of relativity theory. In this paper we will discuss aspects of the PARCS cesium physics package subsystem design addressing magnetic, microwave and vacuum requirements as well as operational scenarios.