公开(公告)号：US11869679B2

公开(公告)日：2024-01-09

申请号：US17576897

申请日：2022-01-14

Applicant: HRL Laboratories, LLC

Inventor： Travis Autry ,  Ian Counts ,  Jennifer Ellis ,  Danny Kim ,  Christopher Roper

IPC: G21K1/02 ,  G21K1/00 ,  H03L7/26 ,  G04F5/14

CPC classification number: G21K1/02 ,  G21K1/006 ,  H03L7/26 ,  G04F5/14

Abstract: In some variations, an interferometric frequency-reference apparatus comprises: an atom source configured to supply neutral atoms to be ionized; an ionizer configured to excite the neutral atoms to form ionized atoms; an ion collimator configured to form a collimated beam of the ionized atoms; probe lasers; and a Doppler laser configured to determine a ground-state population of the ionized atoms, wherein the atom source, the ionizer, and the ion collimator are disposed within a vacuum chamber. Other variations provide a method of creating a stable frequency reference, comprising: forming ionized atoms from an atomic vapor; forming a collimated beam of ionized atoms; illuminating ionized atoms with first and second probe lasers; adjusting the frequencies of the first probe and second probe lasers using Ramsey spectroscopy to an S→D transition of ionized atoms; and determining a ground-state population of the ionized atoms with another laser.

公开(公告)号：US11929186B2

公开(公告)日：2024-03-12

申请号：US18120787

申请日：2023-03-13

Applicant: HRL Laboratories, LLC

Inventor： Travis Autry ,  Ian Counts ,  Jennifer Ellis ,  Danny Kim ,  Christopher Roper

IPC: G21K1/02 ,  G21K1/00 ,  H03L7/26 ,  G04F5/14

CPC classification number: G21K1/02 ,  G21K1/006 ,  H03L7/26 ,  G04F5/14

Abstract: In some variations, an interferometric frequency-reference apparatus comprises: an atom source configured to supply neutral atoms; a collimator configured to form a collimated beam of the neutral atoms; one or more probe lasers; and a Doppler laser configured to determine a ground-state population of the neutral atoms. Other variations provide a method of creating a stable frequency reference, comprising: forming a collimated beam of neutral atoms; illuminating the neutral atoms with first and second probe lasers; adjusting the frequencies of the first probe laser and second probe laser using Ramsey spectroscopy to an S→D transition of the neutral atoms; and determining a ground-state population of the neutral atoms with another laser. The interferometric frequency-reference apparatus may provide an optical frequency reference or a microwave frequency reference.