Patents by Inventor Eric Imhof

Eric Imhof has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11920235
    Abstract: An alkali-metal dispenser to dispense highly pure rubidium in a high-vacuum environment while not negatively impacting the high-vacuum pressure level. The alkali-metal dispenser is operable in various vapor-deposition applications or to provide a highly pure elemental-alkali metal in cold-atom magneto-optical traps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Inventors: David Hostutler, Matthew Bigelow, Rudolph N. Kohn, Jr., Spencer Olson, Matthew Squires, Daniel R. Blakley, Eric Imhof, Brian Kasch, Mary Spanjers
  • Publication number: 20200102639
    Abstract: An alkali-metal dispenser to dispense highly pure rubidium in a high-vacuum environment while not negatively impacting the high-vacuum pressure level. The alkali-metal dispenser is operable in various vapor-deposition applications or to provide a highly pure elemental-alkali metal in cold-atom magneto-optical traps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: David Hostutler, Matthew Bigelow, Rudolph N. Kohn, JR., Spencer Olson, Matthew Squires, Daniel R. Blakley, Eric Imhof, Brian Kasch, Mary Spanjers
  • Patent number: 10531554
    Abstract: A three-dimensional magneto-optical trap (3D GMOT) configured to trap a cold-atom cloud is disclosed. The 3D GMOT includes a single input light beam having its direction along a first axis, an area along a second and third axis that are both normal to the first axis, and a substantially flat input light beam intensity profile extending across its area. The 3D GMOT may also include a circular, diffraction-grating surface positioned normal to the first axis and having closely adjacent grooves arranged concentrically around a gap formed in its center. The circular, diffraction-grating surface is configured to diffract first-order light beams that intersect within an intersection region that lies directly above the gap and suppresses reflections and diffractions of all other orders. The 3D GMOT may further include a quadrupole magnetic field with its magnitude being zero within the intersection region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Utah State University Space Dynamics Laboratory
    Inventor: Eric Imhof
  • Patent number: 10519537
    Abstract: An alkali-metal dispenser to dispense highly pure rubidium in a high-vacuum environment while not negatively impacting the high-vacuum pressure level. The alkali-metal dispenser is operable in various vapor-deposition applications or to provide a highly pure elemental-alkali metal in cold-atom magneto-optical traps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: David Hostutler, Matthew Bigelow, Rudolph N. Kohn, Jr., Spencer Olson, Matthew Squires, Daniel R. Blakley, Eric Imhof, Brian Kasch, Mary Spanjers
  • Publication number: 20190211439
    Abstract: An alkali-metal dispenser to dispense highly pure rubidium in a high-vacuum environment while not negatively impacting the high-vacuum pressure level. The alkali-metal dispenser is operable in various vapor-deposition applications or to provide a highly pure elemental-alkali metal in cold-atom magneto-optical traps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: David Hostutler, Matthew Bigelow, Rudolph N. Kohn, JR., Spencer Olson, Matthew Squires, Daniel R. Blakley, Eric Imhof, Brian Kasch, Mary Spanjers
  • Publication number: 20190200445
    Abstract: A three-dimensional magneto-optical trap (3D GMOT) configured to trap a cold-atom cloud is disclosed. The 3D GMOT includes a single input light beam having its direction along a first axis, an area along a second and third axis that are both normal to the first axis, and a substantially flat input light beam intensity profile extending across its area. The 3D GMOT may also include a circular, diffraction-grating surface positioned normal to the first axis and having closely adjacent grooves arranged concentrically around a gap formed in its center. The circular, diffraction-grating surface is configured to diffract first-order light beams that intersect within an intersection region that lies directly above the gap and suppresses reflections and diffractions of all other orders. The 3D GMOT may further include a quadrupole magnetic field with its magnitude being zero within the intersection region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Applicant: Utah State University Research Foundation
    Inventor: Eric Imhof
  • Patent number: 10278275
    Abstract: A two-dimensional magneto-optical trap (2D GMOT) that is configured to produce a cold-atom beam exiting the 2D GMOT is disclosed. In embodiments, the 2D GMOT is configured to feed a three-dimensional GMOT with the cold atom beam. In embodiments, the 2D GMOT includes an input light beam having its direction along a first axis, its width along a second axis, normal to the first axis, and a substantially flat input light beam intensity profile. 2D GMOT may further includes a quadrupole magnetic field with its magnitude being zero along a third axis that is centered at the center of the input light beam's width. The 2D GMOT may also include a diffraction-grating surface positioned normal to the first axis, composed of closely adjacent parallel grooves spread across the width and run parallel to the third axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Utah State University Research Foundation
    Inventor: Eric Imhof
  • Publication number: 20170359888
    Abstract: A two-dimensional magneto-optical trap (2D GMOT) that is configured to produce a cold-atom beam exiting the 2D GMOT is disclosed. In embodiments, the 2D GMOT is configured to feed a three-dimensional GMOT with the cold atom beam. In embodiments, the 2D GMOT includes an input light beam having its direction along a first axis, its width along a second axis, normal to the first axis, and a substantially flat input light beam intensity profile. 2D GMOT may further includes a quadrupole magnetic field with its magnitude being zero along a third axis that is centered at the center of the input light beam's width. The 2D GMOT may also include a diffraction-grating surface positioned normal to the first axis, composed of closely adjacent parallel grooves spread across the width and run parallel to the third axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Applicant: Utah State University Research Foundation
    Inventor: Eric Imhof