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US 12,742,835 B2Granted
Techniques for atomic magnetometers and atomic magnetic gradiometers
AssigneeHoneywell Aerospace US LLC
InventorsArgyrios Dellis, Chad Fertig
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Size, weight, and cost of an atomic magnetic sensor vacuum chamber, and thus an atomic magnetometer and/or an atomic magnetic gradiometer, is reduced by using at least one photonic integrated circuit (PIC). The at least one PIC is configured to receive an optical signal, e.g., from a laser, and to distribute the optical signal to at least one set of two or more grating coupled surface emitters. Each grating coupled surface emitter is configured to collimate, direct, and emit, along a direction of emission, an optical beam, derived from a portion of the optical signal, to an optical detector.
Claims20
An apparatus for sensing changes in an external magnetic field, the apparatus comprising:
- a package including an interior surface and an atomic magnetic sensor vacuum chamber;
- at least one photonic integrated circuit (PIC) mounted on the interior surface and including at least one set of at least two grating coupled surface emitters, and at least one set of at least one planar optical waveguide each of which is coupled to a set of at least two grating coupled surface emitters, wherein each at least one planar optical waveguide is configured to receive a continuous wave optical signal, and wherein each of the at least two grating coupled surface emitters of a set is configured to emit an optical beam;
- for each set, at least two optical detectors each of which are mounted on and/or in the package, wherein each of the at least two optical detectors is configured to receive an emitted optical beam along a direction of emission between an optical detector and a unique grating coupled surface emitter which emits the emitted optical beam;
- for each set, at least two portions of a vapor of atoms in the atomic magnetic sensor vacuum chamber, wherein each portion is in one direction of emission;
- and
- at least one coil each of which is in and/or on the package and is configured to generate a magnetic field in at least one portion of the vapor of atoms.
3 more elements
A method for sensing changes in an external magnetic field, the method comprising:
- for each set of at least one set of at least two grating coupled surface emitters, emitting at least two optical beams, wherein each of the at least two optical beams is emitted from a unique grating coupled surface emitter formed on at least one photonic integrated circuit (PIC), along a direction of emission, through a portion of a vapor of atoms in a measurement volume in an atomic magnetic sensor vacuum chamber, and to an optical detector, and wherein the PIC and the vapor of atoms are in a package;
- for each set of at least two grating coupled optical surface, generating at least two electrical signals, wherein each electrical signal is generated by a unique optical detector upon which one of at least one optical beam is incident after propagating through a unique portion of a vapor of atoms, wherein each electrical signal has a parameter value proportional to optical energy of at least one optical beam incident on the unique optical detector, wherein the unique optical detector is in and/or on the package;
- and
- for each set of at least two grating coupled surface emitters, determining a strength of the external magnetic field in portions, of the vapor of atoms, through which the at least two optical beams propagate.
1 more element
An apparatus for sensing changes in an external magnetic field, the apparatus comprising:
- a package including an interior surface and an atomic magnetic sensor vacuum chamber;
- at least one photonic integrated circuit (PIC) mounted on the interior surface and including at least one set of at least two grating coupled surface emitters, and at least one set of at least one planar optical waveguide each of which is coupled to a set of at least two grating coupled surface emitters, wherein each at least one planar optical waveguide is configured to receive a continuous wave optical signal, and wherein each of the at least two grating coupled surface emitters of a set is configured to emit an optical beam;
- for each set, at least two optical detectors each of which are mounted on and/or in the package, wherein each of the at least two optical detectors is configured to receive an emitted optical beam along a direction of emission between an optical detector and a unique grating coupled surface emitter which emits the emitted optical beam;
- for each set, at least two portions of a vapor of atoms in the atomic magnetic sensor vacuum chamber, wherein each portion is in one direction of emission;
- at least one coil each of which is in and/or on the package and is configured to generate a magnetic field in at least one portion of the vapor of atoms;
- a laser optically coupled to each set of at least one planar optical waveguide and configured to generate the continuous wave optical signal;
- an electrical supply configured to provide direct current (DC) and/or alternating current (AC) to each of the at least one coil;
- and
- processing circuitry electrically coupled to each of the at least two optical detectors and configured to determine at least one field strength of the external magnetic field and/or at least one magnetic gradient of the external magnetic field.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.