Systems and methods for low power magnetic field generation for atomic sensors using electro-permanent magnets
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorKenneth Salit
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for low power magnetic field generation for atomic sensors using electro-permanent magnets are provided. In one embodiment, a method for magnetic field generation for an atomic sensor comprises: laser cooling a sample of atoms in a chamber; and trapping the sample of atoms in a magneto-optical trap within the chamber by applying an atom trapping field across the sample of atoms using at least one pair of electro-permanent magnet units.
Claims18
A method of magnetic field generation with an atomic sensor, the method comprising:
- laser cooling a sample of atoms in a chamber;
- and
- trapping the sample of atoms in a magneto-optical trap within the chamber by applying an atom trapping field across the sample of atoms using at least one pair of electro-permanent magnet units;
- wherein each electro-permanent magnet unit of the at least one pair of electro-permanent magnet units comprises:
- a first magnetic ring of a first magnetic material;
- a second magnetic ring of a second magnetic material;
- and
- a coil of magnet wire that is wrapped around one or both of the first magnetic ring and the second magnetic ring;
- wherein applying an atom trapping magnetic field across the sample of atoms further comprises applying a first pulse of current having a first duration and amplitude to the coil of magnetic wire, wherein the applied first pulse of current also switches each electro permanent magnet unit of the at least one pair of electro-permanent magnet units from an off state to an on state by switching a magnetic polarity of the second magnetic ring without switching a polarity of the first magnetic ring.
A cold atom sensor, the cold atom sensor comprising:
- a vacuum chamber having a sample of atoms sealed within the vacuum chamber;
- at least one pair of electro-permanent magnet units arranged across the vacuum chamber, the least one pair of electro-permanent magnet units comprising a first electro-permanent magnet unit having a first center ring hole and a second electro-permanent magnet unit having a second center ring hole;
- a first laser source configured to launch a first laser beam through the first center ring hole and towards the second center ring hole, and a second laser source configured to launch a second laser beam through the second center ring hole and towards the first center ring hold, wherein the first laser beam and the second laser beam are collinear;
- wherein the first laser source and the second laser source are configured to laser cool the sample of atoms when the first laser beam and the second laser beam are energized and the first electro-permanent magnet unit and the second electro-permanent magnet unit are configured to produce an atom trapping magnetic field that holds the sample of atoms in an magneto-optical trap;
- wherein each electro-permanent magnet unit of the at least one pair of electro-permanent magnet units comprises:
- a first magnetic ring of a first magnetic material;
- a second magnetic ring of a second magnetic material;
- and
- a coil of magnet wire that is wrapped around one or both of the first magnetic ring and the second magnetic ring;
- wherein the at least one pair of electro-permanent magnet units are configured to produce the atom trapping magnetic field across the sample of atoms by applying a first pulse of current having a first duration and amplitude to the coil of magnetic wire, wherein the applied first pulse of current also switches each electro-permanent magnet unit of the at least one pair of electro-permanent magnet units from an off state to an on state by switching a magnetic polarity of the second magnetic ring without switching a polarity of the first magnetic ring.
The cold atom sensor of now, wherein the first laser beam and the second laser beam are each aligned to an axis of the atom trapping magnetic field.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.