QUANTUM INTERFERENCE DEVICE, ATOMIC OSCILLATOR, ELECTRONIC APPARATUS, AND VEHICLE

• US 20170279455A1
• Filed: 03/16/2017
• Published: 09/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: MAKI, Yoshiyuki
• Granted Patent: US 10,523,226 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G04F 5/14 using atomic clocks
• CPC Class Codes: H03B 17/00 Generation of oscillations using radiation source and detector, e.g. with interposed variable obturator
• CPC Class Codes: H03L 1/02 against variations of temperature only
• CPC Class Codes: H03L 7/26 using energy levels of molecules, atoms, or subatomic particles as a frequency reference

Abstract

A quantum interference device includes a base having a mounting surface, an atom cell in which alkali metal atoms are encapsulated, a light source adapted to emit light adapted to excite the alkali metal atoms, a photodetector adapted to detect the light having been transmitted through the atom cell, and a support adapted to support the atom cell, the light source, and the photodetector in a lump with respect to the mounting surface in a state in which the atom cell, the light source, and the photodetector are arranged in a direction along the mounting surface.

Claims

1. A quantum interference device comprising:

a base having a mounting surface;

an atom cell in which alkali metal atoms are encapsulated;

a light source adapted to emit light adapted to excite the alkali metal atoms;

a photodetector adapted to detect the light transmitted through the atom cell; and

a support adapted to support the atom cell, the light source, and the photodetector in a lump with respect to the mounting surface in a state in which the atom cell, the light source, and the photodetector are arranged in a direction along the mounting surface.

2. The quantum interference device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a connector that fixes a relative positional relationship between the atom cell, the light source, and the photodetector,

wherein the thermal conductivity of the support is lower than the thermal conductivity of the connector.

3. The quantum interference device according to claim 2, wherein

the connector contains a metal material.

4. The quantum interference device according to claim 2, wherein

the support contains a resin material.

5. The quantum interference device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a heater supported by the support together with the atom cell, the light source, and the photodetector in a lump, and adapted to heat the light source,

wherein a distance between the heater and the light source is shorter than a distance between the heater and the atom cell.

6. The quantum interference device according to claim 1, wherein

a distance between an end of the atom cell located on an opposite side to the mounting surface and the mounting surface is shorter than a distance between the light source and the photodetector.

7. The quantum interference device according to claim 1, wherein

a length of the atom cell in a direction in which the atom cell and the light source are arranged and along the mounting surface is longer than a length of the atom cell in a direction perpendicular to the mounting surface.

8. The quantum interference device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a container that houses the atom cell, the light source, the photodetector, and the support, and the pressure of an internal space of the container is smaller than atmospheric pressure,

wherein the base constitutes a part of the container.

9. An atomic oscillator comprising:

the quantum interference device according to claim 1.

10. An electronic apparatus comprising:

the quantum interference device according to claim 1.