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: In one embodiment a system including a resonator fiber-optic gyroscope configured to measure rotation rate is provided. The resonator fiber-optic gyroscope includes a sensing resonator have a first resonance frequency for a first laser beam propagation direction and a second resonance frequency for a second laser beam propagation direction, an optical mixer coupled to an output of the sensing resonator and configured to mix an output of the sensing resonator with a reference laser, wherein the optical mixer outputs a beat signal, and a resonance tracking electronics coupled to the optical mixer. The resonance tracking electronics are configured to demodulate the beat signal at a frequency offset to produce first in-phase and quadrature demodulated information, generate R-squared information from a sum of squares of the first in-phase and quadrature demodulated information, and demodulate the R-squared information at a resonance tracking modulation frequency.

Abstract: In one embodiment a system including a resonator fiber-optic gyroscope configured to measure rotation rate is provided. The resonator fiber-optic gyroscope includes a sensing resonator have a first resonance frequency for a first laser beam propagation direction and a second resonance frequency for a second laser beam propagation direction, an optical mixer coupled to an output of the sensing resonator and configured to mix an output of the sensing resonator with a reference laser, wherein the optical mixer outputs a beat signal, and a resonance tracking electronics coupled to the optical mixer. The resonance tracking electronics are configured to demodulate the beat signal at a frequency offset to produce first in-phase and quadrature demodulated information, generate R-squared information from a sum of squares of the first in-phase and quadrature demodulated information, and demodulate the R-squared information at a resonance tracking modulation frequency.

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: In an example, a chip-scale atomic clock physics package is provided. The physics package includes a body defining a cavity having a base surface and one or more side walls. The cavity includes a first step surface and a second step surface defined in the one or more side walls. A first scaffold mounted to the base surface in the cavity. One or more spacers defining an aperture therethrough are mounted to the second step surface in the cavity. A second scaffold is mounted to a first surface of the one or more spacers spans across the aperture of the one or more spacers. A third scaffold is mounted to a second surface of the one or more spacers in the cavity and spans across the aperture of the one or more spacers. Other components of the physics package are mounted to the first, second, and third scaffold.

Abstract: In an example, a chip-scale atomic clock physics package is provided. This chip-scale atomic clock physics package includes a body defining a cavity, and a first scaffold mounted in the cavity. A laser is mounted on the first surface of the first scaffold. A second scaffold is also mounted in the cavity. The second scaffold is disposed such that the first surface of the second scaffold is facing the first scaffold. A first photodetector is mounted on the first surface of the second scaffold. A vapor cell is mounted on the first surface of the second scaffold. A waveplate is also included, wherein the laser, waveplate, first photodetector, and vapor cell are disposed such that a beam from the laser can propagate through the waveplate and the vapor cell and be detected by the first photodetector. A lid is also included for covering the cavity.

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: System and methods for a nanofabricated optical circular polarizer are provided. In one embodiment, a nanofabricated circular polarizer comprises a quarter wave plate; and a linear polarizer formed on a surface of the quarter wave plate.

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: In an example, a chip-scale atomic clock physics package is provided. This chip-scale atomic clock physics package includes a body defining a cavity, and a first scaffold mounted in the cavity. A laser is mounted on the first surface of the first scaffold. A second scaffold is also mounted in the cavity. The second scaffold is disposed such that the first surface of the second scaffold is facing the first scaffold. A first photodetector is mounted on the first surface of the second scaffold. A vapor cell is mounted on the first surface of the second scaffold. A waveplate is also included, wherein the laser, waveplate, first photodetector, and vapor cell are disposed such that a beam from the laser can propagate through the waveplate and the vapor cell and be detected by the first photodetector. A lid is also included for covering the cavity.

Abstract: A chip-scale atomic clock comprises a physics package and a laser die located in a first thermal zone of the physics package. A quarter wave plate is mounted in the physics package and is in optical communication with the laser die. A vapor cell is mounted in the physics package and is in optical communication with the quarter wave plate. The vapor cell is located in a second thermal zone that is independent from the first thermal zone. An optical detector is mounted in the physics package and is in optical communication with the vapor cell. The first thermal zone provides a first operation temperature at a first stability point associated with the laser die, and the second thermal zone provides a second operation temperature at a second stability point associated with the vapor cell.

Abstract: A chip-scale atomic clock comprises a physics package and a laser die located in a first thermal zone of the physics package. A quarter wave plate is mounted in the physics package and is in optical communication with the laser die. A vapor cell is mounted in the physics package and is in optical communication with the quarter wave plate. The vapor cell is located in a second thermal zone that is independent from the first thermal zone. An optical detector is mounted in the physics package and is in optical communication with the vapor cell. The first thermal zone provides a first operation temperature at a first stability point associated with the laser die, and the second thermal zone provides a second operation temperature at a second stability point associated with the vapor cell.