Abstract: A system, method, or device for providing a vacuum cell comprising a conformal coating is disclosed. The system includes (i) a vacuum cell having at least one internal vacuum chamber, the vacuum cell being formed of at least one piece, and (ii) a conformal coating on the at least one internal vacuum chamber or surface of the vacuum cell, the conformal coating having fewer seams than a number of the at least one piece.

Abstract: A system including a vacuum cell, an ion pump, and a multi-layer magnetic shield is described. The vacuum cell includes a magnetic field-sensitive section, a pump section, and a channel section providing a vacuum conductance path between the magnetic field-sensitive section and the pump section. The ion pump is in the pump section. The multi-layer magnetic shield surrounds at least a portion of the ion pump. The multi-layer magnetic shield has a first layer and a second layer. The first layer is between the second layer and the ion pump. The first layer has a moderate relative magnetic permeability and a high saturation magnetization. The second layer has a high relative magnetic permeability and a moderate saturation magnetization.

Abstract: In the manufacture of a quantum cell, multi-finger jigs are used to hold precision masks flat during a photolithographic procedure and or to apply force uniformly over a bonding area during an anodic or other direct bonding procedure. The fingers of a jig are flexible that they can bend sufficiently independently of each other that one finger can accommodate a non-uniformity of a surface to be contacted by the jig so that other fingers remain in contact with other areas of the surface. The fingers can be defined by slits orthogonal to a perimeter of the jig.

Abstract: An electromagnetic field detector including a vapor cell, an excitation system, and a frequency tuner is described. The vapor cell has a plurality of quantum particles therein. The excitation system excites the quantum particles to a first Rydberg state. The first Rydberg state has a transition to a second Rydberg state at a first frequency. The frequency tuner generates a tunable field in a portion of the vapor cell. The tunable field shifts the first Rydberg state and/or the second Rydberg state such that the transition to the second Rydberg state is at a second frequency different from the first frequency. The detection frequency range for the electromagnetic field detector is continuous and includes the first frequency and the second frequency.

Abstract: Beamformers are formed (e.g., carved) from a stack of transparent sheets. A rear face of each sheet has a reflective coating. The reflectivities of the coatings vary monotonically with sheet position within the stack. The sheets are tilted relative to the intended direction of an input beam and then bonded to form the stack. The carving can include dicing the stack to yield stacklets, and polishing the stacklets to form beamformers. Each beamformer is thus a stack of beamsplitters, including a front beamsplitter in the form of a triangular or trapezoidal prism, and one or more beamsplitters in the form of rhomboid prisms. In use, a beamformer forms an output beam from an input beam. More specifically, the beamformer splits an input beam into plural output beam components that collectively constitute an output beam that differs in cross section from the input beam.

Abstract: An electromagnetic field detector including a vapor cell, an excitation system, and a frequency tuner is described. The vapor cell has a plurality of quantum particles therein. The excitation system excites the quantum particles to a first Rydberg state. The first Rydberg state has a transition to a second Rydberg state at a first frequency. The frequency tuner generates a tunable field in a portion of the vapor cell. The tunable field shifts the first Rydberg state and/or the second Rydberg state such that the transition to the second Rydberg state is at a second frequency different from the first frequency. The detection frequency range for the electromagnetic field detector is continuous and includes the first frequency and the second frequency.

Abstract: An ultra-high-vacuum (UHV) cell includes an integrated guide stack (IGS) as part of a boundary between an internal vacuum and an external ambient. The IGS is formed by bonding together plural integrated guide components (IGCs). Each IGC includes (prior to the bonding) electrical and/or electro-magnetic (EM) guides defined within a bulk material such as glass or silicon. The electrical guides can be, for example, conductive paths or vias, while the EM guides can include microwave or other RF guides, optical fibers and/or paths along which an index of refraction has been modified along an desired optical path. EM and electrical connections between IGCs can be formed after the IGCs are bonded together to form the IGS. Use of an IGS as a vacuum boundary can provide substantial functionality for manipulating and interrogating quantum particles; the functionality can include, for example, the ability to regulate fields within the UHV cell.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing custom optically active quantum-particle cells includes forming a pre-customization assembly and then, in response to receipt of specifications for quantum-particle cells, performing a customization subprocess on the pre-customization assembly to yield custom quantum-particle cells, e.g., vapor cells, vacuum cells, micro-channel cells containing alkali metal or alkaline-earth metal ions or neutral atoms. The customization can include forming metasurface structures on cell walls, e.g., to serve as anti-reflection coatings, lenses, etc., and introducing quantum particles (e.g., alkali metal atoms). A cover can be bonded to hermetically seal the assembly, which can then be diced to yield plural separated custom optically active quantum-particle cells.

Abstract: A vacuum cell provides for electric field control within an ultra-high vacuum (UHV) for cold-neutral-atom quantum computing and other quantum applications. Electrode assemblies extend through vacuum cell walls. Prior to cell assembly, contacts are bonded to respective locations on the ambient-facing surfaces of the walls. Trenches are formed in the vacuum-facing surfaces of walls and via holes are formed, extending from trenches through the wall and into the contacts. Plating conductive material into the trenches and via holes forms the electrodes and vias. The electrodes are contained by the trenches and do not extend beyond the trenches so as to avoid interfering with the bonding of components to the vacuum-facing surfaces of the walls. The vias extend into the contacts to ensure good electrical contact. An electric-field controller applies electric potentials to the electrodes (via the contacts) to control electric fields within the vacuum.

Abstract: A monolithic break-seal includes a membrane that separates an outer ring from an inner ring. The inner ring is bonded to a vacuum cell and the outer ring is bonded to a vacuum interface. To protect against unintentional breakage of the membrane, a surface of the outer ring not bonded to the vacuum interface contacts the vacuum cell. An external vacuum system evacuates the vacuum cell through an aperture of the break-seal. Once a target vacuum level is reached for the vacuum cell, a cap is bonded to the inner ring, blocking the aperture and hermetically sealing the vacuum cell. The membrane is broken so that the hermetically sealed vacuum cell can be separated from the vacuum interface to which the outer ring remains bonded.

Abstract: A pulsed-laser applies short (e.g., less than 10 pico-seconds) pulses to modify quantum particle (e.g., alkali-metal and alkaline-earth-metal atoms) ultra-high vacuum (UHV) cells to bond, ablate, and/or chemically modify vacuum-facing surfaces of the cell. The pulses are generated outside the cell and are transmitted through a vacuum-boundary wall. In one example, one vacuum-boundary wall is first contact bonded to other vacuum boundary walls at a relatively low temperature (below 200° C.), sufficient to form a temporary hermetic seal. Pulsed laser bonding is used to reinforce the contact bonds, correcting defects and generally increasing the robustness of the seal. The pulses provide high peak power to ensure strong bonds, but low total heat so as to avoid heat damage to nearby cell components and to limit quantum-particle sorbtion to and into cell walls.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing custom optically active quantum-particle cells includes forming a pre-customization assembly and then, in response to receipt of specifications for quantum-particle cells, performing a customization subprocess on the pre-customization assembly to yield custom quantum-particle cells, e.g., vapor cells, vacuum cells, micro-channel cells containing alkali metal or alkaline-earth metal ions or neutral atoms. The customization can include for metasurface structures on cell walls, e.g., to serve as anti-reflection coatings, lenses, etc., and introducing quantum particles (e.g., alkali metal atoms). A cover can be bonded to hermetically seal the assembly, which can then be diced to yield plural separated custom optically active quantum-particle cells.

Abstract: A vacuum cell is described. The vacuum cell includes an inner chamber, a buffer channel, and a buffer ion pump. The buffer channel is fluidically isolated from the inner chamber and fluidically isolated from an ambient external to the vacuum cell. The buffer ion pump is fluidically coupled to the buffer channel and fluidically isolated from the ambient and the inner chamber.

Abstract: A vacuum system is described. The vacuum system includes a vacuum cell and an ion trap. The vacuum cell includes walls having an inner surface that form at least a portion of a vacuum chamber. At least a portion of the inner surface has a topography including structures therein. The structures include a getter material. The ion trap is within the vacuum chamber.

Abstract: A drop-in multi-optics module for a quantum-particle (e.g., rubidium, cesium) cell provides for more convenient and cost-effective manufacture of such cells (including vacuum cells, cold/ultra-cold matter cells, vapor cells, and channel cells). In a 3D printing approach, a model of a frame augmented by buffer material is 3D printed. The buffer material is removed from the augmented frame to achieved desired dimensions with greater precision than could be achieved by 3D printing the frame directly. Optical and, in some cases, other components are attached to the frame to realize the multi-optics drop-in module. Alternatively, the module can be formed by cutting out portions of a metal sheet and then folding the resulting 2D preform.

Abstract: A quantum-particle cell manufacturing process includes coating a substrate with transparent conductive oxide (TCO) such as indium tin oxide (ITO). Regions of the TCO are then transformed, e.g., by pulsed-laser annealing, to increase their resistivity. The annealed region then electrically isolates adjacent higher conductivity and lower resistivity regions, which can serve as field plates. At least one annealed region extends from the cell interior through a bond between the substrate and sidewalls and into the cell exterior so that adjacent unannealed regions can serve as independently controllable feedthroughs. The annealing does not significantly affect the TCO thickness so the bond between the substrate and the sidewall structure remains intact and the completed quantum particle cell can be hermetically sealed.

Abstract: Beamformers are formed (e.g., carved) from a stack of transparent sheets. A rear face of each sheet has a reflective coating. The reflectivities of the coatings vary monotonically with sheet position within the stack. The sheets are tilted relative to the intended direction of an input beam and then bonded to form the stack. The carving can include dicing the stack to yield stacklets, and polishing the stacklets to form beamformers. Each beamformer is thus a stack of beamsplitters, including a front beamsplitter in the form of a triangular or trapezoidal prism, and one or more beamsplitters in the form of rhomboid prisms. In use, a beamformer forms an output beam from an input beam. More specifically, the beamformer splits an input beam into plural output beam components that collectively constitute an output beam that differs in cross section from the input beam.

Abstract: Beamformers are formed (e.g., carved) from a stack of transparent sheets. A rear face of each sheet has a reflective coating. The reflectivities of the coatings vary monotonically with sheet position within the stack. The sheets are tilted relative to the intended direction of an input beam and then bonded to form the stack. The carving can include dicing the stack to yield stacklets, and polishing the stacklets to form beamformers. Each beamformer is thus a stack of beamsplitters, including a front beamsplitter in the form of a triangular or trapezoidal prism, and one or more beamsplitters in the form of rhomboid prisms. In use, a beamformer forms an output beam from an input beam. More specifically, the beamformer splits an input beam into plural output beam components that collectively constitute an output beam that differs in cross section from the input beam.

Abstract: A monolithic break-seal includes a membrane that separates an outer ring from an inner ring. The inner ring is bonded to a vacuum cell and the outer ring is bonded to a vacuum interface. To protect against unintentional breakage of the membrane, a surface of the outer ring not bonded to the vacuum interface contacts the vacuum cell. An external vacuum system evacuates the vacuum cell through an aperture of the break-seal. Once a target vacuum level is reached for the vacuum cell, a cap is bonded to the inner ring, blocking the aperture and hermetically sealing the vacuum cell. The membrane is broken so that the hermetically sealed vacuum cell can be separated from the vacuum interface to which the outer ring remains bonded.

Abstract: An electromagnetic field detector including a vapor cell, an excitation system, and a frequency tuner is described. The vapor cell has a plurality of quantum particles therein. The excitation system excites the quantum particles to a first Rydberg state. The first Rydberg state has a transition to a second Rydberg state at a first frequency. The frequency tuner generates a tunable field in a portion of the vapor cell. The tunable field shifts the first Rydberg state and/or the second Rydberg state such that the transition to the second Rydberg state is at a second frequency different from the first frequency. The detection frequency range for the electromagnetic field detector is continuous and includes the first frequency and the second frequency.