Micro-cell for NMR gyroscope
AssigneeNorthrop Grumman Corporation
InventorsHenry Abbink, Edward Kanegsberg, Kenneth Marino, Charles Volk
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cell in one example comprises an alkali metal and a coating of parylene on an interior surface of the cell. In one implementation, the alkali metal may be an optically pumped gaseous phase of an alkali metal. The parylene coating minimizes interaction of the excited state of the alkali metal, increases lifetime of the excited state, and minimizes interaction of nuclear spin states with the cell walls.
Claims41
A cell comprising:
- an alkali metal;
- and
- a coating of parylene on an interior surface of the cell.
An apparatus comprising:
- a cell formed from an optically transmissive material having an opening therethrough;
- top and bottom covers attached to the optically transmissive material, one of the top or bottom covers including an opening therethrough that serves as a fill hole for the cell;
- an alkali metal deposited within the cell;
- and
- a coating of parylene on an interior surface of the cell;
- wherein the alkali metal comprises an optically pumped gaseous phase of an alkali metal, and the parylene coating minimizes interaction of the excited state of the alkali metal, increases lifetime of the excited state, and minimizes interaction of nuclear spin states with the cell walls.
A method comprising the steps of:
- forming a cell from an optically transmissive material having an opening therethrough;
- attaching top and bottom covers to the optically transmissive material, one of the top or bottom covers having an opening therethrough to provide a fill hole for the cell;
- depositing a coating of parylene on an interior surface of the cell;
- and
- placing an alkali metal within the cell.
An NMR gyro comprising:
- a cell formed from an optically transmissive material having an opening therethrough;
- top and bottom covers attached to the optically transmissive material, one of the top or bottom covers including an opening therethrough that serves as a fill hole for the cell;
- an alkali metal deposited within the cell;
- and
- a coating of parylene on an interior surface of the cell;
- wherein the alkali metal comprises an optically pumped gaseous phase of an alkali metal, and the parylene coating minimizes interaction of the excited state of the alkali metal, increases lifetime of the excited state, and minimizes interaction of nuclear spin states with the cell walls.
An apparatus having combined NMR gyro and atomic clock functionality, the apparatus comprising:
- a cell formed from an optically transmissive material having an opening therethrough;
- top and bottom covers attached to the optically transmissive material, one of the top or bottom covers including an opening therethrough that serves as a fill hole for the cell;
- an alkali metal deposited within the cell;
- and
- a coating of parylene on an interior surface of the cell;
- wherein the alkali metal comprises an optically pumped gaseous phase of an alkali metal, and the parylene coating minimizes interaction of the excited state of the alkali metal, increases lifetime of the excited state, and minimizes interaction of nuclear spin states with the cell walls.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.