Technique for optically pumping alkali-metal atoms using CPT resonances
US7379486B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 22, 2005 |
| Grant date | May 27, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 27, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG04F5/145
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Systems and methods for optically pumping alkali-metal atoms using Coherence Population Trapping (CPT) resonances are disclosed. An illustrative push-pull optical pumping system for inducing CPT resonances in a resonance cell containing an admixture of alkali-metal atoms and one or more buffer gasses may include a laser assembly adapted to produce alternating orthogonally polarized light, and at least one DC current source adapted to output a constant-intensity carrier current signal for inducing laser emission from the laser assembly at a carrier wavelength of the alkali-metal atoms. An RF modulated signal outputted from an RF modulation source can be rectified, split, and phase-shifted for inducing a time-dependent polarization of the laser light that can be used to enhance CPT resonances. The alternating orthogonally polarized light from the laser assembly can then be used to optically pump the alkali-metal atoms within the vapor cavity, producing a dark state that can be detected with a photodetector or the like.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.