Abstract: An atomic clock system employs one of a family of ion trap configurations confining an ion in a potential well, such that a vibrational frequency confined ion may be measured accurately. The ion traps disclassed for use in such atomic clock systems include configurations of ring-shaped conductive members, or sheets of conductive material having circular holes therein. The trap apparatus further has a means to apply an RF field such that the resulting electric field being generated in a space defined by the conductive members has a characteristic of a substantially quadrupole field whereby a charged particle, being injected into the space, is confined in said field, maintaining a dynamic equilibrium condition.

Abstract: An ion confinement, i.e., trap, apparatus comprises electrically conductive members, including concentric, coplanar rings or parallel sheets separated by dielectric spacers disposed on the outer edges of the sheets, each of the sheets having a circular hole, the circular holes being symmetrically aligned substantially along a common axis. The trap apparatus further has means for applying an RF potential to the conductive members, such that the resulting electric field being generated in the space defined by the conductive members has a characteristic of a substantially quadrupole field. A charged particle, being injected into the space, is confined in the field, maintaining a dynamic equilibrium condition.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing a non-linear interaction between two electromagnetic waves, e.g. a laser beam and a microwave beam, in a non-linear optical medium, wherein one wave passes through a predetermined region of the medium in a zig-zag path, and the other traverses the predetermined region of the non-linear medium in two opposed directions in such a manner that an interaction-production phase-matching of the two waves is obtained not only in the departing but also in the approaching segments of the zig-zag path.