Apparatus with ambient magnetic field correction
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a cell filled with a gas;
an exciter of the gas to make atoms of the gas jump to a higher energy level;
a detector to collect a light signal passing through the gas;
means for applying an essentially static magnetic field and two oscillating magnetic fields directed perpendicular to each other; and
means for controlling the means for applying the essentially static magnetic field and the two oscillating magnetic fields in order to regulate in direction and in intensity the essentially static magnetic field, and cause a reduction in an amplitude of spectral lines of the light signal passing through the gas among frequencies (Ω
/2π
, ω
/2π
) of the two oscillating magnetic fields, a sum (ω
+Ω
)/2π
) of said frequencies and a difference (ω
−
Ω
)/2π
) of said frequencies.
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Abstract
This atomic clock comprises means for applying two mutually perpendicular oscillating magnetic fields (9, 10), governed by a control device (5) that makes them apply a static or nearly static magnetic field for compensating the ambient magnetic field in order to cancel sub-level energy variations of the matter, which disrupt the frequency of the returned photons and the reference provided by the clock. Traditional magnetic shielding may be omitted. Said device can also operate as a magnetometer.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
-
a cell filled with a gas; an exciter of the gas to make atoms of the gas jump to a higher energy level; a detector to collect a light signal passing through the gas; means for applying an essentially static magnetic field and two oscillating magnetic fields directed perpendicular to each other; and means for controlling the means for applying the essentially static magnetic field and the two oscillating magnetic fields in order to regulate in direction and in intensity the essentially static magnetic field, and cause a reduction in an amplitude of spectral lines of the light signal passing through the gas among frequencies (Ω
/2π
, ω
/2π
) of the two oscillating magnetic fields, a sum (ω
+Ω
)/2π
) of said frequencies and a difference (ω
−
Ω
)/2π
) of said frequencies. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus comprising:
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a cell filled with a gas; an exciter of the gas that makes atoms of the gas jump to a higher energy level; a detector that collects a light signal passing through the gas; a magnetic unit that applies an essentially static magnetic field and two oscillating magnetic fields directed perpendicular to each other; and a controller that controls the magnetic unit in order to regulate in direction and in intensity the essentially static magnetic field, and cause a reduction in an amplitude of spectral lines of the light signal passing through the gas among frequencies (Ω
/2π
, ω
/2π
) of the two oscillating magnetic fields, a sum (ω
+Ω
)/2π
) of said frequencies and a difference (ω
−
Ω
)/2π
) of said frequencies. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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Specification
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Current AssigneeCommissariat a L'Energie Atomique (French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission)
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Original AssigneeCommissariat a L'Energie Atomique (French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission)
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InventorsLe Prado, Matthieu, Leger, Jean-Michel
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Primary Examiner(s)Koval, Melissa
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Assistant Examiner(s)CHAN, EMILY Y
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Application NumberUS12/747,189Publication NumberTime in Patent Office1,728 DaysField of Search324300-322, 331/3US Class Current324/301CPC Class CodesG01R 33/26 using optical pumpingG04F 5/14 using atomic clocks
