Method and system for operating an atomic clock with simultaneous control of frequency and magnetic field
US7439814B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 24, 2006 |
| Grant date | Oct 21, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 1, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG04F5/145
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention relates to a method and system in which multi-coherent resonances of a microwave in which the alkali-metal atoms in the ground state are driven simultaneously by a microwave hyperfine frequency ΩH and a Zeeman frequency ΩZ. The driving influences on the atom can include magnetic fields or by optically pumping light modulated by a Zeeman frequency ΩZ or a microwave hyperfine frequency ΩH or by combinations of their harmonics or subharmonics. Multi-coherent resonances permit simultaneous measurement or control of the ambient magnetic field and measurement or control of a hyperfine resonance frequency of alkali-metal atoms. In one embodiment, the hyperfine frequency for a controlled magnetic field can serve as an atomic clock frequency.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.