GAS CELL, QUANTUM INTERFERENCE DEVICE, ATOMIC OSCILLATOR, ELECTRONIC DEVICE, AND MOVING OBJECT

• US 20150180492A1
• Filed: 12/19/2014
• Published: 06/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: YOSHIDA, Hiroyuki, TAMURA, Tomohiro
• Granted Patent: US 9,312,871 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G04F 5/14 using atomic clocks
• CPC Class Codes: G04F 5/145 using Coherent Population Trapping
• CPC Class Codes: H03L 7/26 using energy levels of molecules, atoms, or subatomic particles as a frequency reference

Abstract

A gas cell includes an internal space in which metal atoms and a buffer gas are sealed. The buffer gas includes a gas mixture including nitrogen gas and argon gas. The mole fraction of the argon gas in the gas mixture is equal to or greater than 15% and equal to or less than 40%.

Claims

1. A gas cell comprising:

a body having an internal space;

metal atoms which are sealed in the internal space; and

a buffer gas which is sealed in the internal space,

wherein the buffer gas is a gas mixture including nitrogen gas and argon gas, and

a mole fraction of the argon gas in the gas mixture is in a range equal to or greater than 15% and equal to or less than 40%.

2. The gas cell according to claim 1,

wherein the mole fraction of the argon gas in the gas mixture is in a range equal to or greater than 20% and equal to or less than 37%.

3. The gas cell according to claim 1,

wherein the metal atoms are cesium atoms.

4. The gas cell according to claim 1, further comprising:

a pair of windows; and

the body which is disposed between the pair of windows, the body and windows cooperatively forming the internal space,

wherein a distance between the pair of windows is equal to or less than 10 mm.

5. The gas cell according to claim 4,

wherein a width of the body parallel to the pair of windows is equal to or less than 10 mm.

6. A quantum interference device comprising:

the gas cell according to claim 1.

7. An atomic oscillator comprising:

the gas cell according to claim 1.

8. An electronic device comprising:

the gas cell according to claim 1.

9. A moving object comprising:

the gas cell according to claim 1.

10. A gas cell comprising:

a body;

a pair of windows secured to opposite ends of the body to form an internal space enclosed by the body and the pair of windows;

metal atoms which are sealed in the internal space; and

a buffer gas which is sealed in the internal space,

wherein the buffer gas is a gas mixture including nitrogen gas and argon gas,

a mole fraction of the argon gas in the gas mixture is in a range equal to or greater than 15% and equal to or less than 40%,

a distance between the pair of windows is equal to or less than 10 mm, and

a width of the body parallel to the pair of windows is equal to or less than 10 mm.

11. The gas cell according to claim 10,

wherein the mole fraction of the argon gas in the gas mixture is in a range equal to or greater than 20% and equal to or less than 37%.

12. The gas cell according to claim 11,

wherein the metal atoms are cesium atoms.

13. The gas cell according to claim 10,

wherein the metal atoms are cesium atoms.

14. A gas cell comprising:

a body;

a pair of windows bonded to opposite ends of the body to form an internal space enclosed by the body and the pair of windows, the internal space including;

a columnar through-hole that penetrates through the body in a first direction;

a recess which is open to one of the pair of windows; and

a groove communicably interconnecting the columnar through-hole and the recess;

metal atoms which are sealed in the internal space; and

a buffer gas which is sealed in the internal space,

wherein the buffer gas is a gas mixture including nitrogen gas and argon gas,

a mole fraction of the argon gas in the gas mixture is in a range equal to or greater than 15% and equal to or less than 40%,

a distance between the pair of windows is equal to or less than 10 mm, and

a width of the body parallel to the pair of windows is equal to or less than 10 mm.

15. The gas cell according to claim 14,

wherein the mole fraction of the argon gas in the gas mixture is in a range equal to or greater than 20% and equal to or less than 37%.

16. The gas cell according to claim 15,

wherein the metal atoms are cesium atoms.

17. The gas cell according to claim 14,

wherein the metal atoms are cesium atoms.

18. The gas cell according to claim 14, wherein a first space is formed by the columnar through-hole, a second space is formed by the recess, and a third space is formed by the groove;

the first, second and third spaces communicate with each other; and

the first and second spaces communicate with each other via the third space.

19. The gas cell according to claim 14,

wherein a material which forms the pair of windows transmits excitation light which excites the metal atoms in the gas cell.