Cold atom micro primary standard
US7944317B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 15, 2009 |
| Grant date | May 17, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 27, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG04F5/14
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An atomic clock having a physics package that includes a vacuum chamber cavity that holds atoms of Rb-87 under high vacuum conditions, an optical bench having a single laser light source, a local oscillator, a plurality of magnetic field coils, an antenna, at least one photo-detector and integrated control electronics. The single laser light source has a fold-retro-reflected design to create three retro-reflected optical beams that cross at 90° angles relative to one another in the vacuum chamber cavity. This design allows the single laser light source to make the required six trapping beams needed to trap and cool the atoms of Rb-87. The foregoing design makes possible atomic clocks having reduced size and power consumption and capable of maintaining an ultra-high vacuum without active pumping.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.