Method and system for operating a laser self-modulated at alkali-metal atom hyperfine frequency
US7323941B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 21, 2005 |
| Grant date | Jan 29, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 21, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG04F5/145
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for making atomic clocks or atomic magnetometers as self-modulated laser systems based on the physics of push-pull optical pumping. An atomic vapor cell is required to be in the laser cavity. With proper conditions, spontaneous push-pull optical pumping can occur inside the laser cavity. This causes the laser beam to be modulated at hyperfine-resonance frequency. With a fast photodetector, the modulated laser signal can be converted into the electrical signal, which serves as the atomic clock ticking signal or magnetometer signal. The self-modulated laser system does not use any local oscillator and the microwave circuit to lock the oscillator frequency to the hyperfine-resonance frequency, and therefore can consume less power and become more compact than conventional systems. This invention will benefit applications of time measurements and magnetic-field measurements.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.