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US 5,327,105 AGranted
Gas cell for a miniaturized atomic frequency standard
AssigneeWestinghouse Electric Corp.
InventorsIrving Liberman, Peter J. Chantry
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gas cell for a miniature atomic frequency standard. The gas cell functions not only to contain the cesium vapor, but also as a resonator for the microwave signal used to excite the vapor. By combining the functions of gas cell and resonator into a single structure, and by taking advantage of the intensity of light available from a laser diode, the overall size of an atomic frequency standard can be reduced by two orders of magnitude when compared to prior art devices of comparable accuracy.
Claims10
A gas cell for an atomic frequency standard comprising:
- a container having a window, said container operable to hold a vapor;
- means for reflecting light disposed within said container;
- and
- means for introducing a microwave signal into said container;
- wherein said container is a resonator for said microwave signal.
2 more elements
A gas cell for an atomic frequency standard comprising:
- a container having a window, said container operable to hold a vapor;
- a mirror disposed within said container;
- and
- means for introducing a microwave signal into said container;
- wherein said container is a resonator for said microwave signal.
2 more elements
A gas cell for an atomic frequency standard comprising:
- a container having a window, said container operable to hold a vapor;
- a semi-transparent conductor disposed over said window;
- and
- means for introducing a microwave signal into said container;
- wherein said container is a resonator for said microwave signal.
2 more elements
A gas cell for an atomic frequency standard comprising:
- a container having a window, said container operable to hold a vapor;
- a metal screen disposed over said window;
- and
- means for introducing a microwave signal into said container;
- wherein said container is a resonator for said microwave signal.
2 more elements
An atomic frequency standard comprising:
- a container having a window, said container further being a resonator;
- means for reflecting light disposed within said container;
- a vapor contained in said container;
- an oscillator operable to generate a microwave signal;
- means for coupling said microwave signal to said vapor;
- a laser diode operable to generate light and positioned such that said light passes through said vapor;
- means for detecting said light having passed through said vapor;
- means for controlling the frequency of said microwave signal in response to the amount of light detected by said detecting means.
5 more elements
An atomic frequency standard comprising:
- a container having a window, said container further being a resonator;
- a mirror disposed within said container;
- a vapor contained in said container;
- an oscillator operable to generate a microwave signal;
- means for coupling said microwave signal to said vapor;
- a laser diode operable to generate light and positioned such that said light passes through said vapor;
- means for detecting said light having passed through said vapor;
- means for controlling the frequency of said microwave signal in response to the amount of light detected by said detecting means.
5 more elements
An atomic frequency standard comprising:
- a container having a window, said container further being a resonator;
- a semi-transparent conductor disposed over said window;
- a vapor contained in said container;
- an oscillator operable to generate a microwave signal;
- means for coupling said microwave signal to said vapor;
- a laser diode operable to generate light and positioned such that said light passes through said vapor;
- means for detecting said light having passed through said vapor;
- means for controlling the frequency of said microwave signal in response to the amount of light detected by said detecting means.
5 more elements
An atomic frequency standard comprising:
- a container having a window, said container further being a resonator;
- a screen disposed over said window;
- a vapor contained in said container;
- an oscillator operable to generate a microwave signal;
- means for coupling said microwave signal to said vapor;
- a laser diode operable to generate light and positioned such that said light passes through said vapor;
- means for detecting said light having passed through said vapor;
- means for controlling the frequency of said microwave signal in response to the amount of light detected by said detecting means.
5 more elements
An atomic frequency standard comprising:
- a container having a window, said container further being a resonator;
- a vapor contained in said container;
- an oscillator operable to generate a microwave signal;
- means for coupling said microwave signal to said vapor;
- a laser diode operable to generate light and positioned such that said light passes through said vapor;
- means for detecting said light having passed through said vapor;
- means for controlling the frequency of said microwave signal in response to the amount of light detected by said detecting means;
- wherein the thickness of said resonator is no more than 6 mm.
5 more elements
An atomic frequency standard comprising:
- a rectangular resonator containing cesium vapor;
- an oscillator operable to generate a microwave signal;
- means for coupling said microwave signal to said resonator;
- a laser diode operable to pass light through said cesium vapor;
- means for detecting said light having passed through said cesium vapor;
- means for controlling the frequency of said microwave signal in response to the amount of light having passed through said vapor;
- and
- wherein the thickness of said resonator is no more than 6 mm.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.