Atomic Oscillator And Frequency Signal Generation System

• US 20190278231A1
• Filed: 03/07/2019
• Published: 09/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: HAYASHI, Nobuhito, CHINDO, Koji
• Granted Patent: US 10,642,226 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G04F 5/14 using atomic clocks
• CPC Class Codes: G04F 5/145 using Coherent Population Trapping
• CPC Class Codes: H03B 17/00 Generation of oscillations using radiation source and detector, e.g. with interposed variable obturator
• CPC Class Codes: H03L 1/04 Constructional details for maintaining temperature constant
• CPC Class Codes: H03L 7/26 using energy levels of molecules, atoms, or subatomic particles as a frequency reference

Abstract

An atomic oscillator includes a light source, an atom cell containing a gaseous alkali metal atom, and a nitrogen- and argon-containing buffer gas, and through which light from the light source passes, a photodetector that detects light having passed through the atom cell, and a container containing nitrogen gas and housing the atom cell. The container has a first surface, a second surface, a third surface, a fourth surface, a fifth surface, and a sixth surface. The first surface has a first through hole. At least one of the second surface, the third surface, the fourth surface, the fifth surface, and the sixth surface has a second through hole.

Claims

1. An atomic oscillator comprising:

a light source;

an atom cell containing a gaseous alkali metal atom, and a nitrogen- and argon-containing buffer gas, and through which light from the light source passes;

a photodetector that detects light having passed through the atom cell; and

a container containing nitrogen gas and housing the atom cell, the container having a first surface, a second surface, a third surface, a fourth surface, a fifth surface, and a sixth surface,

the first surface has a first through hole,

at least one of the second surface, the third surface, the fourth surface, the fifth surface, and the sixth surface has a second through hole.

2. The atomic oscillator according to claim 1, wherein:

the first through hole is a hole for supplying the nitrogen gas,

the light source and the atom cell are disposed on the same side of a first imaginary plane as the first through hole, and

the first imaginary plane is a plane that passes through a center of the container, and is parallel to the first surface.

3. The atomic oscillator according to claim 2, wherein the second through hole is positioned on the opposite side of the first imaginary plane from the first through hole.

4. The atomic oscillator according to claim 3, wherein:

the second through hole is positioned on the opposite side of a second imaginary plane from the first through hole, and

the second imaginary plane is a plane that passes through the center of the container, and is perpendicular to the first surface.

5. The atomic oscillator according to claim 4, wherein:

the third surface joins the first surface, and

the third surface has the second through hole.

6. An atomic oscillator comprising:

a light source;

an atom cell containing a gaseous alkali metal atom, and a nitrogen- and argon-containing buffer gas, and through which light from the light source passes;

a photodetector that detects light having passed through the atom cell; and

a container containing argon gas and housing the atom cell, the container having a first surface, a second surface, a third surface, a fourth surface, a fifth surface, and a sixth surface,

the first surface has a first through hole, and

at least one of the second surface, the third surface, the fourth surface, the fifth surface, and the sixth surface has a second through hole.

7. The atomic oscillator according to claim 6, wherein:

the first through hole is a hole for supplying the argon gas, and

the light source and the atom cell are disposed on the same side of a first imaginary plane as the first through hole, and

the first imaginary plane is a plane that passes through a center of the container, and is parallel to the first surface.

8. The atomic oscillator according to claim 7, wherein the second through hole is disposed on the opposite side of the first imaginary plane from the first through hole.

9. The atomic oscillator according to claim 8, wherein:

the second through hole is positioned on the opposite side of a second imaginary plane from the first through hole, and

the second imaginary plane is a plane that passes through the center of the container, and is perpendicular to the first surface.

10. The atomic oscillator according to claim 9, wherein:

the third surface joins the first surface, and

the third surface has the second through hole.

11. A frequency signal generation system comprising:

an atomic oscillator,

wherein the atomic oscillator includes

a light source;

an atom cell containing a gaseous alkali metal atom, and a nitrogen- and argon-containing buffer gas, and through which light from the light source passes;

a photodetector that detects light having passed through the atom cell; and

a container containing either nitrogen gas or argon gas and housing the atom cell,

the container has a first surface, a second surface, a third surface, a fourth surface, a fifth surface, and a sixth surface,

the first surface has a first through hole,

at least one of the second surface, the third surface, the fourth surface, the fifth surface, and the sixth surface has a second through hole.