Abstract: Provided is a cell for optically-pumped atomic magnetic gradiometry that includes a first confining chamber containing alkali atoms and configured to receive a co-propagating pump and probe light beam, including pump light polarized to spin polarize the alkali atoms, and at least a second confining chamber containing alkali atoms, distanced from the first confining chamber, and which is also configured to receive a co-propagating pump and probe light beam. Also provided are an optically-pumped atomic magnetic gradiometer including the presently disclosed and a system that includes the presently disclosed gradiometer and a microscopy system.

Abstract: A cavity cell for an optically-pumped atomic magnetometer is disclosed, wherein the cavity cell includes several distanced confining chambers containing alkali atoms and configured to receive co-propagating pump and probe light beams. At opposite ends of the confining chambers are arranged top and bottom walls including an inner structure or an optical coating on an inner face that provides a partial reflectivity for the pump and probe lights of the co-propagating pump and probe light beams, thus making the cell become an optical cavity cell. An optically-pumped atomic magnetic gradiometer including the disclosed cavity cell, and a system that includes the disclosed gradiometer and a microscopy system are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for physical random number generation includes the steps of: modulating the gain of a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser periodically from the lower threshold to the upper threshold and back; maintaining the gain per round trip positive for a longer period than the round trip time of the cavity; maintaining the net gain per round trip negative for a longer period than the round trip time of the cavity, in order to create optical pulses of random amplitude; detecting the optical pulses; converting the optical pulses into electrical analog pulses; and digitising the electrical analog pulses into random numbers.

Abstract: Provided is an atomic vapor cell, for atomic or molecular spectroscopy, optical pumping, and/or spin-based atomic sensing, that includes a host substrate and defined there within a buried or non-buried chamber laser written in the host substrate without the need of a mask or photoresist, with either planar or three-dimensional geometry, and intended to contain an atomic vapor. Also provided are an integrated atomic/photonic device and an apparatus, in both cases including the presently disclosed atomic vapor cell, and a method for fabricating the presently disclosed atomic vapor cell.

Abstract: A method for physical random number generation includes the steps of: modulating the gain of a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser periodically from the lower threshold to the upper threshold and back; maintaining the gain per round trip positive for a longer period than the round trip time of the cavity; maintaining the net gain per round trip negative for a longer period than the round trip time of the cavity, in order to create optical pulses of random amplitude; detecting the optical pulses; converting the optical pulses into electrical analog pulses; and digitising the electrical analog pulses into random numbers.

Abstract: A method for physical random number generation includes the steps of: modulating the gain of a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser periodically from the lower threshold to the upper threshold and back; maintaining the gain per round trip positive for a longer period than the round trip time of the cavity; maintaining the net gain per round trip negative for a longer period than the round trip time of the cavity, in order to create optical pulses of random amplitude; detecting the optical pulses; converting the optical pulses into electrical analog pulses; and digitising the electrical analog pulses into random numbers.

Abstract: Provided is an atomic vapor cell, for atomic or molecular spectroscopy, optical pumping, and/or spin-based atomic sensing, that includes a host substrate and defined there within a buried or non-buried chamber laser written in the host substrate without the need of a mask or photoresist, with either planar or three-dimensional geometry, and intended to contain an atomic vapor. Also provided are an integrated atomic/photonic device and an apparatus, in both cases including the presently disclosed atomic vapor cell, and a method for fabricating the presently disclosed atomic vapor cell.

Abstract: A method for physical random number generation includes the steps of: modulating the gain of a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser periodically from the lower threshold to the upper threshold and back; maintaining the gain per round trip positive for a longer period than the round trip time of the cavity; maintaining the net gain per round trip negative for a longer period than the round trip time of the cavity, in order to create optical pulses of random amplitude; detecting the optical pulses; converting the optical pulses into electrical analog pulses; and digitising the electrical analog pulses into random numbers.

Abstract: Provided is a cell for optically-pumped atomic magnetic gradiometry that includes a first confining chamber containing alkali atoms and configured to receive a co-propagating pump and probe light beam, including pump light polarized to spin polarize the alkali atoms, and at least a second confining chamber containing alkali atoms, distanced from the first confining chamber, and which is also configured to receive a co-propagating pump and probe light beam. Also provided are an optically-pumped atomic magnetic gradiometer including the presently disclosed and a system that includes the presently disclosed gradiometer and a microscopy system.

Abstract: A method for physical random number generation includes the steps of: modulating the gain of a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser periodically from the lower threshold to the upper threshold and back; maintaining the gain per round trip positive for a longer period than the round trip time of the cavity; maintaining the net gain per round trip negative for a longer period than the round trip time of the cavity, in order to create optical pulses of random amplitude; detecting the optical pulses; converting the optical pulses into electrical analog pulses; and digitising the electrical analog pulses into random numbers.