Electromagnetically pumped alkali metal vapor cell system
AssigneeAlliant Techsystems Inc.
InventorJohn S. Canham
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electromagnetic pumped alkali metal vapor cell system is provided. The system comprises a vapor cell and windings. The vapor cell contains alkali metal and a buffer. The windings are positioned around the vapor cell and are configured to create an electromagnet field in the vapor cell when an AC signal is applied to the windings. The electromagnetic field pumps unexcited alkali vapor into unionized D1 and D2 states.
Claims27
An electromagnetic pumped alkali metal vapor cell system, the system comprising:
- a vapor cell containing alkali metal vapor and a buffer;
- and
- windings positioned around the vapor cell, the windings are configured to create an electromagnetic field in the vapor cell when an AC signal is applied to the windings.
An electromagnetic pumped alkali metal vapor cell system, the system comprising:
- a vapor cell having a first end window proximate a first end and a second end window proximate a second end;
- alkali metal received in the vapor cell;
- a buffer received in the vapor cell;
- a first ring electrode received in the vapor cell proximate the first end of the vapor cell;
- a second ring electrode received in the vapor cell proximate the second end of the vapor cell, the first and second ring electrodes configured to produce an electromagnetic field in the vapor cell;
- windings wrapping around the vapor cell configured to also produce an electromagnetic field in the vapor cell;
- and
- a cold finger coupled to the vapor cell.
A method of operating a vapor cell, the method comprising:
- heating alkali metal in a vapor cell to produce alkali metal vapor;
- and
- applying an electromagnetic field in the vapor cell to pump unexcited alkali vapor into unionized D1 and D2 states.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.