Magnetic field trimming in an atomic sensor system
AssigneeNorthrop Grumman Systems Corporation
InventorMichael D. Bulatowicz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
One example embodiment includes an atomic sensor system. The system includes a magnetic field generator configured to generate a magnetic field in a volume. The system also includes a vapor cell arranged within the volume and comprising a polarized alkali metal vapor. The system further includes at least one magnetic field trimming system configured to generate a magnetic field gradient within the vapor cell separate from the magnetic field to provide a substantially uniform collective magnetic field within the vapor cell.
Claims20
An atomic sensor system comprising:
- a magnetic field generator configured to generate a magnetic field in a volume;
- a vapor cell arranged within the volume and comprising a polarized alkali metal vapor;
- and
- at least one magnetic field trimming system configured to generate a magnetic field gradient within the vapor cell separate from the magnetic field to provide a substantially uniform collective magnetic field within the vapor cell.
A method for generating a substantially uniform collective magnetic field in a vapor cell of an atomic sensor system, the method comprising:
- generating a circularly-polarized optical pump beam via a pump laser;
- generating a magnetic field in a volume that subsumes the vapor cell comprising an alkali metal vapor that is spin-polarized in response to the optical pump beam;
- generating a local magnetic field within the vapor cell;
- and
- generating at least one magnetic field gradient within the vapor cell separate from the magnetic field, the magnetic field gradient having an intensity that is substantially equal and opposite the local magnetic field to provide the substantially uniform collective magnetic field in the vapor cell.
An atomic sensor system comprising:
- a pump laser configured to generate an optical pump beam;
- a magnetic field generator configured to generate a magnetic field in a volume;
- a vapor cell arranged within the volume and comprising an alkali metal vapor that is spin-polarized in response to the optical pump beam;
- a first magnetic field trimming system configured to generate a first magnetic field gradient independent of the magnetic field having a greatest intensity proximal to at least one internal side-edge of the vapor cell and decreasing away from the at least one internal side-edge;
- a second magnetic field trimming system configured to generate a second magnetic field gradient independent of the magnetic field having a greatest intensity at an internal edge of a first end of the vapor cell that is orthogonal to the optical pump beam and decreasing away from the internal edge of the first end of the vapor cell;
- and
- a third magnetic field trimming system configured to generate a third magnetic field gradient independent of the magnetic field having a greatest intensity at an internal edge of a second end of the vapor cell opposite the first end and decreasing away from the internal edge of the second end of the vapor cell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.