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: One embodiment is directed towards a physics package of an atomic sensor. The physics package includes a plurality of panes of optically transparent material enclosing a vacuum chamber and one or more wedges attached to an external surface of one or more of the panes. The physics package also includes at least one of a light source, photodetector, or mirror attached to the one or more wedges, the light source configured to generate an input light beam for the vacuum chamber, the photodetector configured to detect an output light beam from the vacuum chamber, and the mirror configured to reflect a light beam from the vacuum chamber back into the vacuum chamber, wherein the wedge is configured to oriented such a light source, photodetector, or mirror such that a respective light beam corresponding thereto transmits through a corresponding pane at an acute angle with respect to the corresponding pane.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a dual purpose getter container are provided. In certain embodiments, an atomic sensor device comprises a sensor body, the sensor body enclosing an atomic sensor; a getter container coupled to an opening in the sensor body, wherein a first opening in the getter container is coupled to the opening in the sensor body; and a second opening located on the getter container, wherein gas within the sensor body can pass through the second opening. Further, the device may include a getter enclosed within the getter container, the getter coating surfaces of the getter container, such that gas within the sensor body can enter the getter container and contact the getter.

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: 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: One embodiment is directed towards a physics package of an atomic sensor. The physics package includes a plurality of panes of optically transparent material enclosing a vacuum chamber and one or more wedges attached to an external surface of one or more of the panes. The physics package also includes at least one of a light source, photodetector, or mirror attached to the one or more wedges, the light source configured to generate an input light beam for the vacuum chamber, the photodetector configured to detect an output light beam from the vacuum chamber, and the mirror configured to reflect a light beam from the vacuum chamber back into the vacuum chamber, wherein the wedge is configured to oriented such a light source, photodetector, or mirror such that a respective light beam corresponding thereto transmits through a corresponding pane at an acute angle with respect to the corresponding pane.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide improved systems and methods for external frit mounted components on a sensor device. In one embodiment, a method for fabricating a sensor device comprises securing at least one component stack on a sensor body over at least one opening in the sensor body, wherein the at least one component stack comprises a plurality of components and applying a frit to the plurality of components in the at least one component stack and the sensor body. The method further comprises heating the frit, the at least one component stack, and the sensor body such that the frit melts and cooling the frit, the at least one component stack, and the sensor body such that the at least one component stack is secured to the sensor body.

Abstract: A spectroscopic assembly is provided. The spectroscopic assembly includes a thermal isolation platform, a gas reference cell encasing a gas and attached to the thermal isolation platform, the gas reference cell having at least one optically-transparent window, and at least one heater configured to raise a temperature of the encased gas. When a beamsplitter is configured to reflect a portion of an input optical beam emitted by a laser to be incident on the at least one optically-transparent window of the gas reference cell, the reflected portion of the input optical beam is twice transmitted through the gas. When a detector is configured to receive the optical beam twice transmitted through the gas, a feedback signal is provided to the laser to stabilize the laser.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide improved systems and methods for providing an atomic sensor device. In one embodiment, the device comprises a sensor body, the sensor body enclosing an atomic sensor, wherein the sensor body contains a gas evacuation site located on the sensor body, the gas evacuation site configured to connect to a gas evacuation device. The device also comprises a getter container coupled to an opening in the sensor body, an opening in the getter container coupled to an opening in the sensor body, such that gas within the sensor body can freely enter the getter container. The device further comprises an evaporable getter enclosed within the getter container, the evaporable getter facing away from the sensor body.

Abstract: A laser stabilization system includes laser source having first and second ends; first waveguide portion having first and second ends, first end of first waveguide portion coupled to first end of laser source; second waveguide portion having first and second ends, first end of second waveguide portion coupled to second end of laser source; micro-cavity coupled between second end of first waveguide portion and second end of second waveguide portion, micro-cavity having resonant frequency; and electronic locking loop coupled between micro-cavity and laser source, wherein electronic locking loop electronically locks laser source to resonant frequency of micro-cavity; wherein first waveguide portion is optical locking loop coupled between micro-cavity and laser source, wherein optical locking loop optically locks laser source to resonant frequency of micro-cavity; micro-cavity stabilization loop coupled with micro-cavity, wherein micro-cavity stabilization loop stabilizes resonant frequency of micro-cavity to ref

Abstract: In one embodiment, a block for a physics package of an atomic sensor is provided. The block comprises one or more sections of optically transparent material defining a vacuum sealed chamber, and including a plurality of transmissive and reflective surfaces to define a plurality of light paths intersecting the vacuum sealed chamber. The one or more sections of optically transparent material include a first monolithic section defining at least a portion of the vacuum sealed chamber. The first monolithic section includes a first portion disposed across a first light path of the plurality of light paths such that light in the first light path is incident on the first portion of the first monolithic section.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a block for a physics package of an atomic sensor is provided. The block comprises one or more sections of optically transparent material defining a vacuum sealed chamber, and including a plurality of transmissive and reflective surfaces to define a plurality of light paths intersecting the vacuum sealed chamber. The one or more sections of optically transparent material include a first monolithic section defining at least a portion of the vacuum sealed chamber. The first monolithic section includes a first portion disposed across a first light path of the plurality of light paths such that light in the first light path is incident on the first portion of the first monolithic section.

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: In one embodiment, a block for a physics package of an atomic sensor is provided. The block comprises one or more sections of optically transparent material defining a vacuum sealed chamber, and including a plurality of transmissive and reflective surfaces to define a plurality of light paths intersecting the vacuum sealed chamber. The one or more sections of optically transparent material include a first monolithic section defining at least a portion of the vacuum sealed chamber. The first monolithic section includes a first portion disposed across a first light path of the plurality of light paths such that light in the first light path is incident on the first portion of the first monolithic section.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide improved systems and methods for external frit mounted components on a sensor device. In one embodiment, a method for fabricating a sensor device comprises securing at least one component stack on a sensor body over at least one opening in the sensor body, wherein the at least one component stack comprises a plurality of components and applying a frit to the plurality of components in the at least one component stack and the sensor body. The method further comprises heating the frit, the at least one component stack, and the sensor body such that the frit melts and cooling the frit, the at least one component stack, and the sensor body such that the at least one component stack is secured to the sensor body.

Abstract: A ring laser gyroscope that includes a cavity containing a gain medium, a first plurality of reflective surfaces coupled to the cavity, a medium exciter operable to excite the gain medium, and a saturation beam source operable to emit a saturation beam. The first plurality of reflective surfaces includes a first reflective surface, a second reflective surface, and a third reflective surface. The first, second, and third reflective surfaces are positioned to reflect light along a path defined in the cavity between the plurality of reflective surfaces. The excited gain medium induces first and second laser fields within the cavity. The emitted saturation beam intersects with the first and second laser fields at a first interaction region of the cavity. The saturation beam interacts with the gain medium to reduce the gain of the first and second laser fields at a first range of frequencies.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide improved systems and methods for providing an atomic sensor device. In one embodiment, the device comprises a sensor body, the sensor body enclosing an atomic sensor, wherein the sensor body contains a gas evacuation site located on the sensor body, the gas evacuation site configured to connect to a gas evacuation device. The device also comprises a getter container coupled to an opening in the sensor body, an opening in the getter container coupled to an opening in the sensor body, such that gas within the sensor body can freely enter the getter container. The device further comprises an evaporable getter enclosed within the getter container, the evaporable getter facing away from the sensor body.