Universal detector for atomic and molecular beams
US4375033A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 9, 1981 |
| Grant date | Feb 22, 1983 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 9, 2001 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01D5/48
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An atomic or molecular beam detector is disclosed wherein the beam to be detected is coupled through a chopper to form a spatially modulated beam which is then directed at the pressure sensitive surface of a small sensitive microphone. The electrical output signal of this microphone is coupled to a phase-sensitive detector in order to detect the energy that is present in the signal at the frequency corresponding to the chopping rate. In the specific embodiment disclosed, a light beam is also coupled through the chopper in order to develop a second electrical signal which is mixed with the electrical output of the microphone and then coupled through a low pass filter to provide a DC signal when the atomic or molecular beam is present.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.