Atomic sensor physics package with metal frame

A method of forming a physics package, the method comprising:

• forming a frame composed of metal and including a plurality of slender support members extending between one another in a three dimensional structure, the support members defining boundaries between adjacent apertures defined in the frame, the plurality of support members including a plurality of mounting surfaces adjacent to the apertures;
• attaching a plurality of panes to the mounting surfaces of the frame, the plurality of panes covering the apertures such that the frame and the plurality of panes define a vacuum chamber and provide light paths for intersecting with an atom cloud within the vacuum chamber;
• and
• forming a chamber evacuation structure for evacuating the vacuum chamber.

A physics package of an atomic sensor, the physics package including:

• a frame composed of metal and including a plurality of slender support members extending between one another in a three dimensional structure, the support members defining boundaries between adjacent apertures defined in the frame, the plurality of support members including a plurality of mounting surfaces adjacent to the apertures;
• a first plurality of panes of optically transparent material attached to a first subset of the mounting surfaces of the frame to cover a first subset of the apertures, wherein the first plurality of panes are composed of glass, glass-ceramic, optical glass, or sapphire;
• a second plurality of panes that are optically reflective attached to a second subset of the mounting surfaces to cover a second subset of the apertures, wherein the second plurality of panes are composed of glass, glass-ceramic, optical glass, or sapphire having a reflective coating;
• wherein the first plurality of panes, the second plurality of panes, and the frame define a vacuum chamber and provide light paths for intersecting with an atom cloud within the vacuum chamber, wherein the apertures covered by the first plurality of panes and the second plurality of panes are oriented such that a beam of light entering the vacuum chamber through a first pane of optically transparent material is reflected at angles off of the one or more panes that are optically reflective to form the light paths;
• and
• a chamber evacuation structure formed in a portion of metal integral with the frame.