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: A ring laser gyroscope includes active cavity containing gain medium, first reflective surfaces coupled to active cavity, medium exciter to excite gain medium, second reflective surfaces coupled to first passive cavity, and third reflective surfaces coupled to second passive cavity. Excited gain medium induces first and second laser fields within active cavity. First plurality of reflective surfaces includes first, second, and third reflective surfaces that reflect light within active cavity. Second plurality of reflective surfaces includes first, fourth, and fifth reflective surfaces that reflect light within first passive cavity. Third plurality of reflective surfaces includes fourth, sixth, and seventh reflective surfaces that reflect light within second passive cavity. First and fourth reflective surfaces are partially transmissive such that they both transmit and reflect light.

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.

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: An atom-based accelerometer for measuring acceleration or gravity with an interaction region less than a millimeter in size. An exemplary device includes a magnetic double-well trap produced on a chip. Creation and dissolution of the double-well trap is provided by interaction between an ac magnetic field and a radio frequency (rf) magnetic field produced by traces on the chip.

Abstract: A ring laser gyroscope that includes a cavity containing a gain medium, a plurality of reflective surfaces coupled to the cavity, and at least one medium exciter operable to excite the gain medium. The gain medium has naturally dispersive properties associated with an index of refraction. The reflective surfaces include at least 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 between the plurality of reflective surfaces. The excited gain medium induces first and second laser fields within the cavity. The first and second laser fields operate at a lasing frequency corresponding to a negative slope of the index of refraction associated with the dispersive properties of the gain medium. The gain medium causes anomalous dispersion of the first and second laser fields passing through the gain medium.

Abstract: One embodiment of a ring laser gyroscope discussed herein includes a cavity containing a gain medium having a first linewidth, a first plurality of reflective surfaces coupled to the cavity, and at least one medium exciter operable to excite the gain medium. The first plurality of reflective surfaces includes at least first, second, and third reflective surfaces. 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. A portion of the cavity contains an absorption medium having a second linewidth that is narrower than the first linewidth of the gain medium. The absorption medium reduces the gain of the first and second laser fields at a first range of frequencies.

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: A ring laser gyroscope includes active cavity containing gain medium, first reflective surfaces coupled to active cavity, medium exciter to excite gain medium, second reflective surfaces coupled to first passive cavity, and third reflective surfaces coupled to second passive cavity. Excited gain medium induces first and second laser fields within active cavity. First plurality of reflective surfaces includes first, second, and third reflective surfaces that reflect light within active cavity. Second plurality of reflective surfaces includes first, fourth, and fifth reflective surfaces that reflect light within first passive cavity. Third plurality of reflective surfaces includes fourth, sixth, and seventh reflective surfaces that reflect light within second passive cavity. First and fourth reflective surfaces are partially transmissive such that they both transmit and reflect light.

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: 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: One embodiment of a ring laser gyroscope discussed herein includes a cavity containing a gain medium having a first linewidth, a first plurality of reflective surfaces coupled to the cavity, and at least one medium exciter operable to excite the gain medium. The first plurality of reflective surfaces includes at least first, second, and third reflective surfaces. 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. A portion of the cavity contains an absorption medium having a second linewidth that is narrower than the first linewidth of the gain medium. The absorption medium reduces the gain of the first and second laser fields at a first range of frequencies.

Abstract: A ring laser gyroscope that includes a cavity containing a gain medium, a plurality of reflective surfaces coupled to the cavity, and at least one medium exciter operable to excite the gain medium. The gain medium has naturally dispersive properties associated with an index of refraction. The reflective surfaces include at least 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 between the plurality of reflective surfaces. The excited gain medium induces first and second laser fields within the cavity. The first and second laser fields operate at a lasing frequency corresponding to a negative slope of the index of refraction associated with the dispersive properties of the gain medium. The gain medium causes anomalous dispersion of the first and second laser fields passing through the gain medium.