Photonically multiplexed optical measurement apparatus and performing optical multiplexing
AssigneeGovernment of the United States of America, AS Represented By the Secretary of Commerce
InventorsStephen Paul Eckel, Daniel Schaeder Barker
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Abstract
A photonically multiplexed optical measurement apparatus for performing optical multiplexing includes a laser that produces laser light, an optical switch that receives the laser light from the laser and produces a switched laser light, and a plurality of sensor heads, each sensor head being configured to measure a respective physical property of a plurality of cold atoms disposed in the sensor head. The optical switch optically switches the laser light from the laser to a selected sensor head and subsequently to a different sensor head.
Claims20
A photonically multiplexed optical measurement apparatus for performing optical multiplexing, the photonically multiplexed optical measurement apparatus comprising:
- a first laser that produces first laser light and communicates the first laser light to a first optical switch;
- the first optical switch in optical communication with the first laser and that:
- receives the first laser light from the first laser,
- produces a first switched laser light from the first laser light with the first optical switch in a first switch state,
- communicates the first switched laser light to a first sensor head during the first switch state,
- switches from the first switch state to a second switch state,
- produces a second switched laser light from the first laser light with the first optical switch in a second switch state, and
- communicates the second switched laser light to a second sensor head during the second switch state,
- such that the first optical switch optically switches the first laser light from the first laser to a selected sensor head and subsequently to a different sensor head;
- and
- a plurality of sensor heads, each sensor head being configured to measure a respective physical property of a plurality of cold atoms disposed in the sensor head, such that the plurality of sensor heads comprises the first sensor head and the second sensor head,
- wherein the second switched laser light is used for at least one of cooling, trapping, or probing the plurality of cold atoms.
A photonically multiplexed optical measurement apparatus comprising:
- a laser for producing laser light;
- an optical switch in optical communication with the laser and configured to optically switch the laser light to a selected sensor head;
- a plurality of sensor heads, each sensor head being configured to measure a respective physical property of a plurality of cold atoms disposed in the sensor head;
- and
- a controller configured to control the optical switch to optically switch the laser light to the plurality of sensor heads in a sequence.
A process of operating a photonically multiplexed optical measurement apparatus, comprising the steps of:
- providing a photonically multiplexed optical measurement apparatus comprising:
- a laser for producing laser light;
- an optical switch in optical communication with the laser and configured to optically switch the laser light to a selected sensor head;
- a plurality of sensor heads, each sensor head being configured to measure a respective physical property of a plurality of cold atoms disposed in the sensor head;
- and
- a controller configured to control the optical switch to optically switch the laser light to the plurality of sensor heads in a sequence;
- selecting a sensor head from the plurality of sensor heads;
- providing, by the optical switch, switched laser light to the selected sensor head;
- measuring the property of cold atoms using the selected sensor head;
- and
- turning off, by the optical switch, the switched laser light to the selected sensor head.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.