Abstract: An atomic clock system includes a waveguide cavity that is sealed and comprises a gas enclosed therein. The waveguide cavity has a length that is an integer multiple of approximately one half-wavelength of a resonant frequency of the gas between two states. An oscillator system generates an RF signal through the waveguide cavity. The RF signal has a signal frequency that is approximately equal to the resonant frequency of the gas. A detection system measures a characteristic of the RF signal through the waveguide cavity to detect a maximum transition between the two states of the gas and to provide a feedback signal to the oscillator system to lock the signal frequency of the RF signal to the resonant frequency of the gas based on detecting the maximum transition. The detection system provides a frequency reference output signal based on the signal frequency of the RF signal.

Abstract: One example includes an electrometer system. The system includes a sensor cell comprising an alkali metal vapor within. The system also includes an excitation beam system configured to provide at least one excitation optical beam through the sensor cell to excite the alkali metal atoms from a ground state to a Rydberg energy state. The system also includes a stimulated emission beam system configured to provide a stimulated emission optical beam through the sensor cell to provide energy decay of the alkali metal atoms to a decay energy state that is less than the Rydberg energy state. The system further includes a detection system configured to monitor fluorescent detection light emitted from the alkali metal atoms as the alkali metal atoms decay from the decay state to the ground state to determine signal characteristics of an external signal based on an intensity of the fluorescent detection light.

Abstract: One example includes a vapor cell. The cell includes a transparent enclosure and alkali metal atoms enclosed within the transparent enclosure. The alkali metal atoms can be configured to be stimulated from a first energy state to a second energy state in response to an optical beam provided through the vapor cell and to emit fluorescent light in response to energy of the alkali metal atoms decaying from the second energy state to the first energy state. The cell further includes a reflective coating that is provided on an exterior surface of the transparent enclosure to surround the vapor cell to provide a reflective interior surface with respect to the transparent enclosure of the vapor cell to reflect the fluorescent light. The reflective coating can include a detection window configured to facilitate escape of the fluorescent light from the vapor cell for optical detection.

Abstract: One example includes an atomic optical reference system. The system includes an optical system comprising a laser configured to generate an optical beam. The system also includes a vapor cell comprising alkali metal atoms that are stimulated in response to a modulated beam corresponding to an amplitude-modulated version of the optical beam. The system also includes a detection system configured to monitor at least one detection signal corresponding to light emitted from or absorbed by the vapor cell and to generate at least one feedback signal in response to the at least one detection signal. The system further includes a beam modulator configured to amplitude-modulate the optical beam to generate the modulated beam and to frequency shift the optical beam to generate an output beam having a stable frequency in response to the at least one feedback signal.

Abstract: One embodiment includes an electrometer system. The system includes a sensor cell comprising alkali metal atoms within, and a probe laser configured to generate a probe beam, the probe beam being provided through the sensor cell. The system also includes a coupling laser configured to generate a coupling beam. The coupling beam can be provided through the sensor cell to combine with the probe beam provided through the sensor cell to provide a Rydberg energy state of the alkali metal atoms, the probe beam exiting the sensor cell as a detection beam. The system further includes a sensor control system configured to monitor the detection beam to detect an external signal based on monitoring a phase of the detection beam.

Abstract: One embodiment includes an electrometer system. The system includes a sensor cell comprising alkali metal atoms within, and an optical beam system configured to provide at least one optical beam through the sensor cell to provide a first Rydberg energy state of the alkali metal atoms, the at least one optical beam exiting the sensor cell as a detection beam. The system also includes a tuning signal generator configured to generate a tuning signal having a predetermined tuning frequency to adjust an energy difference between the first Rydberg energy state and a second Rydberg energy state of the alkali metal atoms. The system further includes a detection system configured to monitor the detection beam to detect an external signal having a frequency that is approximately equal to the energy difference between the first Rydberg energy state and the second Rydberg energy state based on monitoring the detection beam.

Abstract: One embodiment includes an electrometer system. The system includes a sensor cell comprising alkali metal atoms within, and an optical beam system configured to provide at least one optical beam through the sensor cell to provide a first Rydberg energy state of the alkali metal atoms, the at least one optical beam exiting the sensor cell as a detection beam. The system also includes a tuning signal generator configured to generate a tuning signal having a predetermined tuning frequency to adjust an energy difference between the first Rydberg energy state and a second Rydberg energy state of the alkali metal atoms. The system further includes a detection system configured to monitor the detection beam to detect an external signal having a frequency that is approximately equal to the energy difference between the first Rydberg energy state and the second Rydberg energy state based on monitoring the detection beam.

Abstract: One embodiment includes a vapor cell for an atomic physics-based sensor system. The vapor cell includes a cell wall formed from an approximately transparent material. The cell wall can enclose an alkali metal vapor and can include an inner surface and an outer surface. The vapor cell can also include at least one structural feature provided on at least one of the inner surface and the outer surface of the cell wall and extending along a portion of the respective at least one of the inner surface and the outer surface.

Abstract: One embodiment includes an electrometer system. The system includes a sensor cell comprising alkali metal atoms within, and a probe laser configured to generate a probe beam, the probe beam being provided through the sensor cell. The system also includes a coupling laser configured to generate a coupling beam. The coupling beam can be provided through the sensor cell to combine with the probe beam provided through the sensor cell to provide a Rydberg energy state of the alkali metal atoms, the probe beam exiting the sensor cell as a detection beam. The system further includes a sensor control system configured to monitor the detection beam to detect an external signal based on monitoring a phase of the detection beam.