Vapor cells with transparent alkali source and/or sink

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9763314-B1
Application number	US-201615203298-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jul 6, 2016
Priority date	Aug 7, 2015
Publication date	Sep 12, 2017
Grant date	Sep 12, 2017

Abstract

In some variations, a vapor-cell system comprises: a vapor-cell region configured to allow at least one vapor-cell optical path into a vapor phase within the vapor-cell region; a first electrode disposed in contact with the vapor-cell region; a second electrode that is electrically isolated from the first electrode; and a transparent ion-conducting layer interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the transparent ion-conducting layer is optically transparent over a selected optical band of electromagnetic wavelengths. Some embodiments provide a magneto-optical trap or atomic-cloud imaging apparatus, comprising: the disclosed vapor-cell system; a source of laser beams configured to provide three orthogonal vapor-cell optical paths through the vapor-cell gas phase, to trap or image a population of cold atoms; and a magnetic-field source configured to generate magnetic fields within the vapor-cell region. Methods of use are also disclosed herein.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vapor-cell system comprising:
a vapor-cell region configured to allow at least one vapor-cell optical path into a vapor-cell vapor phase within said vapor-cell region;
a first electrode disposed in contact with said vapor-cell region;
a second electrode that is electrically isolated from said first electrode; and
a transparent ion-conducting layer interposed between said first electrode and said second electrode, wherein said transparent ion-conducting layer is at least 10% optically transparent over at least a 1 picometer wide optical band of electromagnetic wavelengths.

2. The vapor-cell system of claim 1 , wherein said vapor-cell vapor phase contains a vapor-cell alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, or combination thereof.

3. The vapor-cell system of claim 1 , wherein said vapor-cell region is hermetically sealed.

4. The vapor-cell system of claim 1 , wherein said vapor-cell region is in fluid communication with another system.

5. The vapor-cell system of claim 1 , wherein said transparent ion-conducting layer comprises alumina, β-alumina, β″-alumina, yttria-stabilized zirconia, NASICON, LISICON, KSICON, and combinations thereof.

6. The vapor-cell system of claim 1 , wherein said transparent ion-conducting layer is ion-exchanged with an ionized version of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal.

7. The vapor-cell system of claim 1 , wherein said transparent ion-conducting layer is ionically conductive for at least one ionic species selected from the group consisting of Rb + , Cs + , Na + , K + , and Sr 2+ .

8. The vapor-cell system of claim 1 , wherein said transparent ion-conducting layer is characterized by an ionic conductivity at 25° C. of about 10 −7 S/cm or higher.

9. The vapor-cell system of claim 1 , wherein said optical band is within ultraviolet, visible, and/or infrared bands.

10. The vapor-cell system of claim 1 , wherein said optical band is at least 10 picometers wide.

11. The vapor-cell system of claim 1 , wherein said optical band includes an unperturbed optical transition of an alkali atom or alkaline earth atom.

12. The vapor-cell system of claim 1 , wherein said transparent ion-conducting layer is at least 50% optically transparent over said optical band.

13. The vapor-cell system of claim 1 , wherein said first electrode is at least 10% optically transparent over said optical band.

14. The vapor-cell system of claim 1 , wherein said first electrode is fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of indium tin oxide, antimony tin oxide, zinc tin oxide, and combinations thereof.

15. The vapor-cell system of claim 1 , wherein said first electrode is fabricated from metallic microwires, metallic nanowires, or metallic lithographically patterned networks.

16. The vapor-cell system of claim 1 , wherein said first electrode is fabricated from a graphene single layer, a graphene multi-layer, or a combination thereof.

17. The vapor-cell system of claim 1 , wherein said second electrode is at least 10% optically transparent over said optical band.

18. The vapor-cell system of claim 1 , wherein said second electrode is fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of indium tin oxide, antimony tin oxide, zinc tin oxide, and combinations thereof.

19. The vapor-cell system of claim 1 , wherein said second electrode is fabricated from metallic microwires, metallic nanowires, or metallic lithographically patterned networks.

20. The vapor-cell system of claim 1 , wherein said second electrode is fabricated from a graphene single layer, a graphene multi-layer, or a combination thereof.

21. The vapor-cell system of claim 1 , wherein said second electrode is not in contact with said vapor-cell region.

22. The vapor-cell system of claim 1 , wherein said second electrode is porous.

23. The vapor-cell system of claim 1 , said system further comprising an atom chip.

24. The vapor-cell system of claim 1 , wherein said vapor-cell system is configured to allow three vapor-cell optical paths into said vapor-cell vapor phase.

25. A magneto-optical trap apparatus, said apparatus comprising:
a vapor-cell region configured to allow three orthogonal vapor-cell optical paths into a vapor-cell gas phase within said vapor-cell region;
a first electrode disposed in contact with said vapor-cell region;
a second electrode that is electrically isolated from said first electrode;
a transparent ion-conducting layer interposed between said first electrode and said second electrode, wherein said transparent ion-conducting layer is at least 10% optically transparent over at least a 1 picometer wide optical band of electromagnetic wavelengths;
a source of laser beams configured to provide said three orthogonal vapor-cell optical paths through said vapor-cell gas phase, to trap a population of cold atoms; and
a magnetic-field source configured to generate magnetic fields within said vapor-cell region.

26. An atomic-cloud imaging apparatus, said apparatus comprising:
a vapor-cell region configured to allow three orthogonal vapor-cell optical paths into a vapor-cell gas phase within said vapor-cell region;
a first electrode disposed in contact with said vapor-cell region;
a second electrode that is electrically isolated from said first electrode;
a transparent ion-conducting layer interposed between said first electrode and said second electrode, wherein said transparent ion-conducting layer is at least 10% optically transparent over at least a 1 picometer wide optical band of electromagnetic wavelengths;
a source of laser beams configured to provide said three orthogonal vapor-cell optical paths through said vapor-cell gas phase, to image a population of cold atoms; and
a magnetic-field source configured to generate magnetic fields within said vapor-cell region.

Assignees

• Hrl Lab Llc

Inventors

• Roper Christopher S
• Rakher Matthew T
• Sorenson Logan D

Classifications

• H05H3/02 Primary

  Molecular or atomic-beam generation, e.g. resonant beam generation · CPC title

• G04F5/14

  using atomic clocks · CPC title