Abstract: Vapor cells may include a body including a cavity within the body. A first substrate bonded to a second substrate at an interface within the body, at least one of the first substrate, the second substrate, or an interfacial material between the first and second substrates may define at least one recess or pore in a surface. A smallest dimension of the at least one recess or pore may be about 500 microns or less, as measured in a direction parallel to at least one surface of the first substrate partially defining the cavity.

Abstract: Methods of using vapor cells may involve providing a vapor cell including a body defining a cavity within the body. At least a portion of at least one surface of the vapor cell within the cavity may include at least one pore having an average dimension of about 500 microns or less, as measured in a direction parallel to the at least one surface. A vapor pressure of a subject material within the cavity may be controlled utilizing the at least one pore by inducing an exposed surface of a subject material in a liquid state within the at least one pore to have a shape different than a shape the exposed surface of the subject material in a liquid state would have on a flat, nonporous surface.

Abstract: Vapor cells may include a body including a cavity within the body. A first substrate bonded to a second substrate at an interface within the body, at least one of the first substrate, the second substrate, or an interfacial material between the first and second substrates may define at least one recess or pore in a surface. A smallest dimension of the at least one recess or pore may be about 500 microns or less, as measured in a direction parallel to at least one surface of the first substrate partially defining the cavity.

Abstract: Methods of using vapor cells may involve providing a vapor cell including a body defining a cavity within the body. At least a portion of at least one surface of the vapor cell within the cavity may include at least one pore having an average dimension of about 500 microns or less, as measured in a direction parallel to the at least one surface. A vapor pressure of a subject material within the cavity may be controlled utilizing the at least one pore by inducing an exposed surface of a subject material in a liquid state within the at least one pore to have a shape different than a shape the exposed surface of the subject material in a liquid state would have on a flat, nonporous surface.

Abstract: A grating emitter method and system for modulating the polarization of an optical beam, such as one for transmission through free-space or use in an atomic clock.

Abstract: Vapor cells may include a body including a cavity within the body. A first substrate bonded to a second substrate at an interface within the body, at least one of the first substrate, the second substrate, or an interfacial material between the first and second substrates may define at least one recess or pore in a surface. A smallest dimension of the at least one recess or pore may be about 500 microns or less, as measured in a direction parallel to at least one surface of the first substrate partially defining the cavity.

Abstract: Methods of using vapor cells may involve providing a vapor cell including a body defining a cavity within the body. At least a portion of at least one surface of the vapor cell within the cavity may include at least one pore having an average dimension of about 500 microns or less, as measured in a direction parallel to the at least one surface. A vapor pressure of a subject material within the cavity may be controlled utilizing the at least one pore by inducing an exposed surface of a subject material in a liquid state within the at least one pore to have a shape different than a shape the exposed surface of the subject material in a liquid state would have on a flat, nonporous surface.

Abstract: A grating emitter method and system for modulating the polarization of an optical beam, such as one for transmission through free-space or use in an atomic clock.

Abstract: A miniature optical system for use in instruments based on laser spectroscopy of atomic and molecular samples, such as atomic frequency standards and magnetometers. The miniature optical system employs a folded optical path that allows light from a laser diode to pass through the cell twice, reflecting from a mirror and returning to a photodetector co-located with the laser diode. This efficient packaging arrangement allows the laser diode and photodetector to be fabricated on the same semiconductor substrate and allows essentially all of the gas cell volume to be utilized, without additional optical components for collimation. Fabrication of the laser source and detector on a single substrate permits cost-effective batch processing and parallel testing of the key active components.

Abstract: A miniature optical system for use in instruments based on laser spectroscopy of atomic and molecular samples, such as atomic frequency standards and magnetometers. The miniature optical system employs a folded optical path that allows light from a laser diode to pass through the cell twice, reflecting from a mirror and returning to a photodetector co-located with the laser diode. This efficient packaging arrangement allows the laser diode and photodetector to be fabricated on the same semiconductor substrate and allows essentially all of the gas cell volume to be utilized, without additional optical components for collimation. Fabrication of the laser source and detector on a single substrate permits cost-effective batch processing and parallel testing of the key active components.

Abstract: The present invention provides an analog frequency divider structure that receives an input signal at a selected frequency and generates an output signal at a fraction, e.g. one-half, of the input frequency. In one embodiment, the analog frequency divider structure is implemented as a MEMS device having a vibratory beam extending along a longitudinal axis between two fixed ends and a piezoelectric transducer coupled to the beam. The MEMS structure further includes a conductive layer disposed on at least a portion of the vibratory beam, which is capacitively coupled to a conductive electrode. A longitudinal excitation of the piezoelectric transducer can effect application of a periodic longitudinal deformation force to the vibratory beam. This deformation force causes the beam to vibrate in a transverse direction at its natural transverse vibrational frequency, which is selected to be a fraction of the input frequency.

Abstract: The present invention provides an analog frequency divider structure that receives an input signal at a selected frequency and generates an output signal at a fraction, e.g. one-half, of the input frequency. In one embodiment, the analog frequency divider structure is implemented as a MEMS device having a vibratory beam extending along a longitudinal axis between two fixed ends and a piezoelectric transducer coupled to the beam. The MEMS structure further includes a conductive layer disposed on at least a portion of the vibratory beam, which is capacitively coupled to a conductive electrode. A longitudinal excitation of the piezoelectric transducer can effect application of a periodic longitudinal deformation force to the vibratory beam. This deformation force causes the beam to vibrate in a transverse direction at its natural transverse vibrational frequency, which is selected to be a fraction of the input frequency.