Abstract: An atomic oscillator according to the present invention includes: a light generator configured to generate two excitation lights; an alkali metal atom gas cell to which the two excitation lights are applied with a frequency difference therebetween being changed; a detecting unit configured to detect a light amount of a transmitted light having passed through the alkali metal atom gas cell; and a control unit configured to measure a resonance frequency of an alkali metal atom gas based on the detected amount of the transmitted light and control an intensity ratio of the two excitation lights applied to the alkali metal atom gas cell based on the measured resonance frequency.

Abstract: An atomic oscillator according to the present invention includes an alkali metal cell, a light source configured to emit excitation light to the alkali metal cell, and a photodetector configured to detect transmission light passed through the alkali metal cell. In the atomic oscillator, a light absorber and a light radiator are placed. The light absorber is configured to raise a temperature thereof in accordance with absorption light to heat the alkali metal cell in contact with the alkali metal cell. The light radiator is configured to radiate light corresponding to heat of the alkali metal cell in contact therewith. The atomic oscillator further includes a second light source configured to emit light to the light absorber, and a second photodetector configured to detect the light radiated by the light radiator.

Abstract: An atomic oscillator of the present invention includes: a light generator that generates a first excitation light having a designed single wavelength, and also generates a second excitation light containing two frequency components by performing frequency modulation at a designated frequency modulation power; an alkali metal atom gas cell to which the second excitation light containing the two frequency components is emitted while a frequency difference between the two frequency components is changed; a measuring unit that measures a transmitted light amount through the alkali metal atom gas cell; and a calculating unit that calculates the frequency modulation power based on a distribution of the transmitted light amount with respect to the frequency difference between the two frequency components of the second excitation light measured every time the wavelength of the first excitation light and the frequency modulation power are changed by the light generator.

Abstract: A quantum interference apparatus includes a space and an alkali-metal atomic cell. A static magnetic field having a specific direction and a specific intensity is applied to the space. The alkali-metal atomic cell is disposed inside the space. Alkali-metal atoms are encapsulated in the alkali-metal atomic cell. As a static magnetic field is applied to the alkali-metal atomic cell and excitation light having at least two different frequency components is applied thereto, a quantum interference state of the alkali-metal atoms is formed. Among the frequency components of the excitation light, a frequency component that participates in the formation of the quantum interference state is light containing linearly-polarized lights having the same polarization direction as each other. The static magnetic field applied to the space is adjusted so that fluctuations of a transition frequency between ground levels forming the quantum interference state with respect to the magnetic field is suppressed.