Abstract: Systems and methods for zero power automatic thermal regulation are provided. In one embodiment, a method for passive thermal management comprises: establishing thermal conductivity between a self-heating electronic device and a cooling fluid held within a fluid reservoir via a thermal interface; using thermally controlled expansion of the cooling fluid, controlling a length of a column of the cooling fluid extending into at least one channel extending from the fluid reservoir, wherein the channel provides a non-recirculating path for the cooling fluid to expand into, and wherein the length of a column of the cooling fluid is thermally controlled using heat absorbed by the cooling fluid from the self-heating electronic device; and selectively establishing a primary heat path between the electronic device and a heat sink interface thermally coupled to an external environment as a function of the length of the column of the cooling fluid within the channel.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises: an optical resonator including a surface; wherein a Bragg grating is formed at least part of the surface of the optical resonator; and wherein the Bragg grating has a Bragg frequency substantially equal to a center frequency of an Nth order Brillouin gain region capable of generating an Nth order Stokes signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for positionally stable magneto-optical trapping over temperature are provided. In certain embodiments, an atomic sensor may include at least one laser source configured to produce at least one laser; one or more optical components, wherein the one or more optical components direct the at least one laser; and a vacuum cell, wherein the one or more optical components direct the at least one laser into the vacuum cell, wherein the one or more optical components and the vacuum cell are bonded together and components within the atomic sensor are fabricated from materials having similar coefficients of thermal expansion.

Abstract: An optical resonator system is provided. The optical resonator comprises a ring resonator portion; wherein the ring resonator portion is configured to be proximate to an optical waveguide, and to receive a first single mode, optical signal from the optical waveguide; a disc resonator portion adiabatically coupled to the ring resonator portion; and wherein the disc resonator portion is configured to receive a second single mode, optical signal through the adiabatic coupling with ring resonator portion.

Abstract: Systems and methods for eliminating multi-path errors from atomic inertial sensors are provided. In certain embodiments, a system for performing atom interferometry includes a vacuum cell containing multiple atoms and a first plurality of lasers configured to trap the atoms within the vacuum cell. The system further includes a second plurality of lasers configured to impart momentum to the atoms and direct the atoms down multiple paths, wherein a primary path in the multiple paths has a first and second component that converge at a converging point, wherein a diverging part of the primary path in which the first and second components are diverging is asymmetrical with respect to a converging part of the primary path in which the first and second components are converging, such that only the first and second components converge at the converging point wherein other paths do not converge at the converging point.

Abstract: Waveguide includes fork with first and second bifurcated ends coupled to loop section and separated by angle determined based on velocities of portions of quantum mechanical wavefunction of atoms traveling above waveguide. Waveguide propagates blue-detuned laser having first evanescent field that repels atoms away from waveguide and red-detuned laser having second evanescent field that attracts atoms toward waveguide, together creating potential minimum/well. Laser cooling atoms, causing atoms positioned in potential minimum/well to move toward first fork section following potential minimum/well. Atomic state initialization section initializes atomic states of atoms to known ground-state configuration.

Abstract: Systems and methods for positionally stable magneto-optical trapping over temperature are provided. In certain embodiments, an atomic sensor may include at least one laser source configured to produce at least one laser; one or more optical components, wherein the one or more optical components direct the at least one laser; and a vacuum cell, wherein the one or more optical components direct the at least one laser into the vacuum cell, wherein the one or more optical components and the vacuum cell are bonded together and components within the atomic sensor are fabricated from materials having similar coefficients of thermal expansion.

Abstract: Systems and methods for eliminating multi-path errors from atomic inertial sensors are provided. In certain embodiments, a system for performing atom interferometry includes a vacuum cell containing multiple atoms and a first plurality of lasers configured to trap the atoms within the vacuum cell. The system further includes a second plurality of lasers configured to impart momentum to the atoms and direct the atoms down multiple paths, wherein a primary path in the multiple paths has a first and second component that converge at a converging point, wherein a diverging part of the primary path in which the first and second components are diverging is asymmetrical with respect to a converging part of the primary path in which the first and second components are converging, such that only the first and second components converge at the converging point wherein other paths do not converge at the converging point.

Abstract: Waveguide includes fork with first and second bifurcated ends coupled to loop section and separated by angle determined based on velocities of portions of quantum mechanical wavefunction of atoms traveling above waveguide. Waveguide propagates blue-detuned laser having first evanescent field that repels atoms away from waveguide and red-detuned laser having second evanescent field that attracts atoms toward waveguide, together creating potential minimum/well. Laser cooling atoms, causing atoms positioned in potential minimum/well to move toward first fork section following potential minimum/well. Atomic state initialization section initializes atomic states of atoms to known ground-state configuration.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide for an on-chip alkali dispenser. The on-chip alkali dispenser includes a monolithic semiconductor substrate defining a trench therein, and an evaporable metal material disposed in the trench. A heating element is disposed proximate the evaporable metal material and configured to provide heat to the evaporable metal material. A getter material is disposed to sorb unwanted materials released from the evaporable metal material.

Abstract: Methods are provided for authenticating a value article that includes a luminescent material. An exciting light source, an optical filter, a photodetector, a signal manipulation circuit, and an amplifier are provided. The luminescent material is exposed to light produced by the exciting light source. Radiation including light from the exciting light source and emitted radiation from the luminescent material is filtered using the optical filter to produce filtered radiation. The filtered radiation is detected using the photodetector to produce a detected radiation signal. The detected radiation signal is electronically manipulated using the signal manipulation circuit to reduce an effect of light from the exciting light source on an authentication determination based upon the detected radiation signal. The detected radiation signal is amplified with the amplifier after electronic manipulation to produce an amplified electronic signal.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed towards a physics package of an atomic sensor. The physics package includes 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 define boundaries between adjacent apertures defined in the frame. The plurality of support members include a plurality of mounting surfaces adjacent to the apertures. The physics package also includes a plurality of panes attached to the mounting surfaces of the frame. The plurality of panes cover the apertures such that the frame and the plurality of panes define a vacuum chamber and provide three light paths that cross within the vacuum chamber at 90 degree angles with respect to one another. The physics package also includes a chamber evacuation structure for evacuating the vacuum chamber.

Abstract: An ion pump includes at least one electron source configured to emit electrons into the ion pump; at least one cathode positioned across the ion pump from the at least one electron source; a high-voltage grid positioned between the at least one electron source and the at least one cathode. The high-voltage grid is configured to draw the electrons in between the at least one electron source and the at least one cathode where the electrons collide with gas molecules causing the gas molecules to ionize. The at least one cathode is configured to draw ionized gas molecules toward the at least one cathode such that the ionized gas molecules are trapped by or near the at least one cathode.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a cold atom frequency standard are provided herein. In certain embodiments, a cold atom microwave frequency standard includes a vacuum cell, the vacuum cell comprising a central cylinder, the central cylinder being hollow and having a first open end and a second open end; a first end portion joined to the first open end; and a second end portion joined to the second open end, wherein the first end portion, the central cylinder, and the second end portion enclose a hollow volume containing atoms, the first end portion and the second end portion configured to allow light to enter into the hollow volume. The cold atom microwave frequency standard also includes a cylindrically symmetric resonator encircling the central cylinder, wherein the resonator generates a microwave field in the hollow volume at the resonant frequency of the atoms.

Abstract: A method for reducing or eliminating clock bias in an atomic clock is provided. The method comprises cooling a population of atoms collected in the atomic clock using a laser locked at a predetermined frequency, turning off the laser, performing atomic clock spectroscopy, turning on the laser after the atomic clock spectroscopy, and relocking the frequency of the laser to an external reference cell. The population of atoms that are in each of two ground hyperfine levels is then probed using laser light that is on or near-resonant with a selected atomic transition.

Abstract: An apparatus for inertial sensing is provided. The apparatus comprises at least one atomic inertial sensor, and one or more micro-electrical-mechanical systems (MEMS) inertial sensors operatively coupled to the atomic inertial sensor. The atomic inertial sensor and the MEMS inertial sensors operatively communicate with each other in a closed feedback loop.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a cold atom frequency standard are provided herein. In certain embodiments, a cold atom microwave frequency standard includes a vacuum cell, the vacuum cell comprising a central cylinder, the central cylinder being hollow and having a first open end and a second open end; a first end portion joined to the first open end; and a second end portion joined to the second open end, wherein the first end portion, the central cylinder, and the second end portion enclose a hollow volume containing atoms, the first end portion and the second end portion configured to allow light to enter into the hollow volume. The cold atom microwave frequency standard also includes a cylindrically symmetric resonator encircling the central cylinder, wherein the resonator generates a microwave field in the hollow volume at the resonant frequency of the atoms.

Abstract: A method for measuring the population of atoms in a vapor cell comprises collecting a sample of atoms, applying radio frequency (RF) spectroscopy to the sample such that a first portion of the atoms are in an upper ground state and a second portion of the atoms are in a lower ground state, and applying light to the sample to produce a first fluorescence such that all atoms are left in the lower ground state. The method further comprises measuring a population of the atoms in the upper ground state based on the first fluorescence, applying an RF pulse to the sample to transfer the atoms in the lower ground state to the upper ground state, and applying light to the sample after the RF pulse is applied to produce a second fluorescence. A population of all the atoms in the sample is then measured based on the second fluorescence.

Abstract: A method for measuring the population of atoms in a vapor cell comprises collecting a sample of atoms, applying radio frequency (RF) spectroscopy to the sample such that a first portion of the atoms are in an upper ground state and a second portion of the atoms are in a lower ground state, and applying light to the sample to produce a first fluorescence such that all atoms are left in the lower ground state. The method further comprises measuring a population of the atoms in the upper ground state based on the first fluorescence, applying an RF pulse to the sample to transfer the atoms in the lower ground state to the upper ground state, and applying light to the sample after the RF pulse is applied to produce a second fluorescence. A population of all the atoms in the sample is then measured based on the second fluorescence.

Abstract: A method for reducing or eliminating clock bias in an atomic clock is provided. The method comprises cooling a population of atoms collected in the atomic clock using a laser locked at a predetermined frequency, turning off the laser, performing atomic clock spectroscopy, turning on the laser after the atomic clock spectroscopy, and relocking the frequency of the laser to an external reference cell. The population of atoms that are in each of two ground hyperfine levels is then probed using laser light that is on or near-resonant with a selected atomic transition.