Compact atomic magnetometer and gyroscope based on a diverging laser beam

US7872473B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary of Commerce National Institute of Standards and Technology · US

Inventors

• John Kitching · Boulder, US
• Elizabeth Ann Donley · Boulder, US
• Eleanor Hodby · Boulder, US
• Andrei A. Shkel · Irvine, US
• Erik J. Eklund · Brooks Road, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 6, 2008
• Grant date: Jan 18, 2011
• Expiry date: Sep 25, 2028

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01C19/60
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An atomic magnetometer that simultaneously achieves high sensitivity, simple fabrication and small size. This design is based on a diverging (or converging) beam of light that passes through an alkali atom vapor cell and that contains a distribution of beam propagation vectors. The existence of more than one propagation direction permits longitudinal optical pumping of atomic system and simultaneous detection of the transverse atomic polarization. The design could be implemented with a micro machined alkali vapor cell and light from a single semiconductor laser. A small modification to the cell contents and excitation geometry allows for use as a gyroscope.