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US 5,517,157 AGranted
Evanescent-field interrogator for atomic frequency standards
AssigneeBall Corporation
InventorThomas C. English
Life of this patent
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AssigneeBall Corporation
InventorThomas C. English
Estimating the term…
A novel atomic frequency standard includes an absorption cell containing a first volume of atoms for varying an intensity of light energy passing therethrough; at least one dielectric resonator for generating an evanescent electromagnetic field that effects hyperfine energy level transitions of the first volume of atoms; a waveguide for housing the absorption cell and one or more dielectric resonator(s); a photo detector mounted near an end of the waveguide for receiving light energy; and an electromagnetic energy injector for electromagnetically exciting the dielectric resonator(s). Preferably, a filter cell is positioned adjacent to a dielectric resonator between the absorption cell and the light source. Tuning of the resonant frequency of the dielectric resonator(s) can be accomplished by adjusting the distance between the filter cell and the adjacent dielectric resonator, and can also be accomplished by positioning a dielectric tuning disk adjacent a dielectric resonator, and adjusting the distance between the dielectric resonator and the dielectric tuning disk.
In an atomic frequency standard having a light source for supplying light energy at a frequency useful in optically effecting energy level transitions of atoms, an apparatus comprising:
An atomic frequency standard apparatus, comprising:
An atomic frequency standard apparatus comprising:
An atomic frequency standard apparatus, comprising:
An atomic frequency standard apparatus, comprising:
A method for generating a standard frequency, comprising the steps of:
An atomic frequency standard apparatus, comprising:
A method of tuning a resonant frequency of an electromagnetic field generated in an atomic frequency standard, comprising the steps of:
A physics package assembly for an atomic frequency standard, comprising:
In an atomic frequency standard having a light source for supplying light energy at a wavelength useful in optically effecting energy level transitions of atoms housed in an absorption cell, the improvement comprising a waveguide for containing microwave energy, electrically open-ended on at least one end, with said absorption cell being carried within said waveguide to receive light energy traveling through said one end of said waveguide.
In an atomic frequency standard having a light source for employing light energy at a wavelength useful in optically affecting energy level transitions of atoms, an apparatus comprising:
In an atomic frequency standard in which light energy effects atomic frequency transitions in an absorption cell which are detected with the use of microwave energy, the improvement comprising a waveguide, electrically open-ended on at least one end, for providing both microwave energy and light energy to said absorption cell.
In an atomic frequency standard in which light energy effects atomic frequency transitions of atoms in an absorption cell that are detectable through the use of microwave energy, the improvement comprising an electrically open-ended waveguide for carrying said atoms and for providing both microwave energy and light energy thereto.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.