Abstract: The present invention relates to a magnetometer (100) using optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR), where a solid state material (10), such as diamond, with an ensemble of paramagnetic defects, such as nitrogen vacancies centers NV, is applied. An optical cavity (20) is optically excited by an irradiation laser (25) arranged therefore. A coupling structure (30) causes a microwave excitation (?) of the paramagnetic defects, and a permanent magnetic field (40, B_C) causes a Zeeman splitting of the energy levels in the paramagnetic defects. A probing volume (PV) in the solid state material is thereby defined by the spatially overlapping volume of the optical excitation by the irradiation laser (25), the coupling structure (30) also exciting the defects, and the constant magnetic field. The magnetometer then measures an unknown magnetic field by detecting emission (27), e.g.

Abstract: One example embodiment includes an atomic sensor system. A probe laser generates a probe beam. A first portion of the probe beam is provided through a sensor cell comprising a first alkali vapor to calculate a measurable parameter of the system based on a first detection beam corresponding to the first portion of the probe beam exiting the sensor cell. A second portion of the probe beam can be provided through a stabilization cell that comprises a second vapor. A detection system can be configured to stabilize the frequency of the probe beam in a manner that is on-resonance with respect to an optical transition wavelength of the second alkali vapor and off-resonance with respect to an optical transition wavelength of the first alkali vapor based on a second detection beam corresponding to the second portion of the probe beam exiting the stabilization cell.

Abstract: A solid-state gyroscope apparatus based on ensembles of negatively charged nitrogen-vacancy (NV?) centers in diamond and methods of detection are provided. In one method, rotation of the NV? symmetry axis will induce Berry phase shifts in the NV? electronic ground-state coherences proportional to the solid angle subtended by the symmetry axis. A second method uses a modified Ramsey scheme where Berry phase shifts in the 14N hyperfine sublevels are employed.

Abstract: A device for controlling a device by using a rotation-rate sensor. In order to provide a device for determining a triggering signal for a safety device which allows a particularly compact implementation of the device, the device is set up to ascertain an acceleration variable on the basis of a first sensor signal for a first seismic mass of the rotation-rate sensor and the second sensor signal for a second seismic mass of the rotation-rate sensor and to control the device as a function of the acceleration variable.

Abstract: Angular rate sensors cause a stream of fluid to flow by heating the fluid. A trajectory of the stream of fluid is deflected by Coriolis forces. Apparatus according to some embodiments provides two heaters spaced apart along a channel. A stream of gas can be made to flow along the channel by operating one of the heaters. The flow can be periodically reversed by alternating operation of the heaters. Temperature sensors may be applied to detect deflection of the flowing gas. Angular rate sensors may be fabricated inexpensively by micromachining techniques.

Abstract: An ion discharge gyroscope measures rotational motion and linear acceleration by generating symmetrical ion jet streams and measuring respective amounts of the jet streams impinging on detectors located so as to intercept the ion jet streams. The ion jet streams will be diverted by operation of the Coriolis effect and the differences in the amount of each ion jet stream impinging on the detectors is an indication of rotational motion and linear acceleration. In one embodiment, the ion jet streams are heated and the respective temperatures of the detectors are measured. In another embodiment, the amounts of current flowing through each detector, as contributed by the ion jet streams, are measured and used to determine rotation and acceleration.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a micromechanical sensor for analyzing liquid samples and an array of such sensors. The invention also concerns a method for sensing liquid samples and the use of longitudinal bulk acoustic waves for analyzing liquid phase samples micromechanically. The sensor comprises a body and a planar wave guide portion spaced from the body. At least one electro-mechanical transducer element are used for excitation of longitudinal bulk acoustic waves to the wave guide portion in response to electrical actuation and for converting acoustic waves into electrical signals. The wave guide portion is provided with a sample-receiving zone onto which the sample can be introduced. By means of the invention, the sensitivity of micromechanical liquid sensors can be improved.

Abstract: Angular rate sensors cause a stream of fluid to flow by heating the fluid. A trajectory of the stream of fluid is deflected by Coriolis forces. Apparatus according to some embodiments provides two heaters spaced apart along a channel. A stream of gas can be made to flow along the channel by operating one of the heaters. The flow can be periodically reversed by alternating operation of the heaters. Temperature sensors may be applied to detect deflection of the flowing gas. Angular rate sensors may be fabricated inexpensively by micromachining techniques.

Abstract: An ion discharge gyroscope measures rotational motion and linear acceleration by generating symmetrical ion jet streams and measuring respective amounts of the jet streams impinging on detectors located so as to intercept the ion jet streams. The ion jet streams will be diverted by operation of the Coriolis effect and the differences in the amount of each ion jet stream impinging on the detectors is an indication of rotational motion and linear acceleration. In one embodiment, the ion jet streams are heated and the respective temperatures of the detectors are measured. In another embodiment, the amounts of current flowing through each detector, as contributed by the ion jet streams, are measured and used to determine rotation and acceleration.

Abstract: The acceleration measurement system has a first thermal cell optimized in sensitivity and a second thermal cell optimized in passband, which cells are connected to inputs of a servo-control loop including an amplifier presenting gain that varies as a function of input signal frequency.

Abstract: A chip-scale atomic gyroscope and methods for sensing and measuring mechanical rotation of an object are disclosed. The chip-scale atomic gyroscope can include a vapor cell including a vapor cavity adapted to contain a vaporized source of alkali-metal atoms and noble gas atoms, a pump laser source adapted to produce a first laser beam along an optical pumping axis for optically pumping the alkali-metal atoms within the vapor cavity to an excited state, and a sense laser source adapted to produce a second laser beam along a sense axis transverse to the optical pumping axis for probing the polarization angle of the noble gas atoms within the vapor cavity. The pump and sense laser sources can each be connected to a servo mechanism, which can be configured to maintain the laser beams at a wavelength corresponding to the carrier wavelength of the alkali-metal atoms and a wavelength detuned from the carrier wavelength.

Abstract: An MHD sensor/actuator is provided for generating torque as well as sensing angular displacements around a sense/torque axis. A column of conductive liquid which rotates within a circumferential channel having an inner circumferential surface and outer circumferential surface provides an inertial proof mass, the relative motion of which within the channel generates a torque or represents a sensed displacement about the common axis of the circumferential channel. According to certain embodiments, a cylindrical column of magnets are located coaxially with the circumferential channel to produce a radially oriented magnetic field which is perpendicular to the common axis. According to other embodiments, a magnetic ring is provided coaxially with the circumferential channel to produce a magnetic field in the direction of the common axis.

Abstract: An ionization contact potential difference gyroscope including a housing enclosing a first and second electrode with a gas, further including an ionization source capable of providing ions from the gas, and a contact potential difference measurement circuit that is capable of measuring an electrical signal related to the amount of ions striking at least one of the two surfaces. The measurement circuit of the present invention is capable of sensing the small amount of electrical current flowing as the electrons and ions strike one or both of the surfaces.

Abstract: An ionization contact potential difference gyroscope including a housing enclosing a first and second electrode with a gas, further including an ionization source capable of providing ions from the gas, and a contact potential difference measurement circuit that is capable of measuring an electrical signal related to the amount of ions striking at least one of the two surfaces. The measurement circuit of the present invention is capable of sensing the small amount of electrical current flowing as the electrons and ions strike one or both of the surfaces.

Abstract: A sensor having an element responsive to a physical quantity to be measured and carrying conducting elements and having electronics for processing useful signals received from the conducting elements or sent to the conducting elements, which electronics is carried by a base; an interconnection circuit (17) secured to the base (8) of the responsive element has a shape adapted to that of the responsive element which surrounds it so that the conducting elements are brought essentially as close as possible, but without contact, to conducting tracks (18) of the interconnection circuit and locally parallel to the conducting elements of the responsive element; flexible conducting wires (19) are disposed, slackly, between the conducting elements of the responsive element (18) and respective first ends of the printed tracks (18); conducting connections are established between opposite second ends of the tracks (18) and respective sealed insulated feedthroughs (11) of the base (8) or conducting tracks of this base.

Abstract: An angular rate sensor which measures submicroradian angular displacements. An MHD sensor is provided having a cylindrical column of conductive fluid, centered about a measurement axis. The magnetic field for the device is generated from permanent magnets and a shunt structure which produces radial magnetic field components through the cylindrical conductive fluid channel. The first electrode contacts an upper end of the cylindrical conductive fluid channel, and a second electrode contacts a lower end of the cylindrical conductive fluid channel. Current produced as a result of an electrostatic potential generated in response to the rotation of the device, flows through a center electrode connecting the first and second electrodes. A transformer winding surrounding the center electrode produces an amplified rate signal from the current flowing between the first and second electrodes.