Static magnetic field applying structure for use in atomic oscillator

• US 7,145,403 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2004
• Issued: 12/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Kikuchi, Akira, Atsumi, Ken, Matsuura, Hideyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Pascal, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOODLEY, JAMES E
• Application Number:
  US10/830,900
• Publication Number:
  US 20050128014A1
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 331/3, 331/94.1, 315/111.41, 315/111.51, 315/111.61, 315/111.71
• US Class Current: 331/94.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 1/06 Gaseous , i.e. beam masers

Abstract

The present invention relates to a static magnetic field applying structure for use in an atomic oscillator in which plural sets of magnetic field generating means are provided with spacing interposed among them, and a resonance cell is disposed in a space between the magnetic field generating means. The object of the present invention is to realize the static magnetic field applying structure which can be small-sized and produced at a low cost.

Claims

1. An atomic oscillator comprising:

a static magnetic field applying structure for applying a static magnetic field to a resonance cell which hermetically encloses therein a predetermined kind of atoms, wherein said structure comprises;

a first magnetic field generating unit and a second magnetic field generating unit which are capable of generating variable magnetic fields and are electrically independently provided with spacing interposed among them, and opposed to each other so that the magnetic fluxes having the same direction can be generated in said first magnetic field generating unit and said second magnetic field generating unit, and

said resonance cell is disposed in a space between said first magnetic field generating unit and said second magnetic field generating unit.

2. A static magnetic field applying structure for use in an atomic oscillator according to claim 1, wherein

each of said first magnetic field generating unit and said second magnetic field generating unit is composed of a solenoid coil which generates a magnetic field in response to a direct current flowing therethrough.

6. A static magnetic field applying structure for use in an atomic oscillator according to claim 1, wherein said atoms are rubidium atoms.

7. A static magnetic field applying structure for use in an atomic oscillator according to claim 2, wherein said atoms are rubidium atoms.

3. A static magnetic field applying structure for use in an atomic oscillator for applying a static magnetic field to a resonance cell which hermetically encloses therein a predetermined kind of atoms, wherein

plural sets of magnetic field generating means are provided with spacing interposed among them, and

said resonance cell is disposed in a space between said magnetic field generating means,

said magnetic field generating means is composed of a solenoid coil which generates a magnetic field in response to a direct current flowing therethrough,

said static magnetic field generating means is composed of a first printed board having a first solenoid coil mounted thereon and a second printed board having a second solenoid coil mounted thereon, and each of the printed boards oppose to each other so that the magnetic fluxes having the same direction can be generated in response to a direct current flowing through said solenoid coils, and

said resonance cell is provided in the static magnetic field generated in a space sandwiched between said printed boards.

4. A static magnetic field applying structure for use in an atomic oscillator according to claim 3, wherein each of the printed boards is composed of a multilayer printed board and said solenoid coil is constructed in such a manner that a ring-like conductor pattern is formed on each layer and a via hole is provided in each layer to establish electrical connection between said ring-like conductor patterns.

8. A static magnetic field applying structure for use in an atomic oscillator according to claim 3, wherein said atoms are rubidium atoms.

9. A static magnetic field applying structure for use in an atomic oscillator according to claim 4, wherein said atoms are rubidium atoms.

5. An atomic oscillator comprising:

a static magnetic field applying structure for applying a static magnetic field to a resonance cell which hermetically encloses therein a predetermined kind of atoms, wherein said structure comprises;

plural sets of magnetic field generating means which are capable of generating variable magnetic fields and are electrically independently provided with spacing interposed among them,

said resonance structure is disposed in a space between said magnetic field generating means, and

said static magnetic field generating means is composed of at least a couple of ring-like conductive patterns having a circular or polygonal shape with a partial cut-away portion, said ring-like conductive patterns being provided on said resonance cell itself so that magnetic fluxes having the same direction can be generated in response to direct currents flowing through said conductive patterns, whereby a static magnetic field is created in a space sandwiched between said ring-like conductive patterns.

10. A static magnetic field applying structure for use in an atomic oscillator according to claim 5, wherein said atoms are rubidium atoms.

11. An atomic oscillator comprising:

a static magnetic field applying structure for applying a static magnetic field to a resonance cell which hermetically encloses therein a predetermined kind of atoms, wherein said structure comprises;

a metal rod being shaped to have first and second antenna portions and plural solenoid coils wound around said metal rod are provided as magnetic field generating means;

said magnetic field generating means comprising;

a first magnetic field generating unit and a second magnetic field generating unit which are capable of generating variable magnetic fields and are electrically independently provided with spacing interposed among them, and opposed to each other so that the magnetic fluxes having the same direction can be generated in said first magnetic field generating unit and said second magnetic field generating unit, and

said resonance cell is disposed in a space sandwiched between said antenna portions of said metal rod and between said first magnetic field generating unit and said second magnetic field generating unit.

14. A static magnetic field applying structure for use in an atomic oscillator according to claim 11, wherein said atoms are rubidium atoms.

12. An atomic oscillator comprising:

a static magnetic field applying structure for applying a static magnetic field to a resonance cell which hermetically encloses therein a predetermined kind of atoms, wherein said structure comprises;

a metal rod being shaped to have first and second antenna portions and a solenoid coil wound around said metal rod are provided as magnetic field generating means,

wherein said magnetic field generating means is composed of a straight conductive pattern formed within an inner layer of a multiple printed board and serving as said metal rod, a coil-like circuit composed of a plural number of conductor pattern pieces formed on layers sandwiching said inner layer from both the sides thereof and via holes connecting any couple of said conductor pattern pieces to each other so that said conductor pattern pieces and said via holes collectively constitute and serve as a solenoid coil surrounding said straight conductive pattern, and antenna members serving as the antenna portions provided at both the ends of said straight conductive pattern so that a magnetic flux is released from the antenna members and a static magnetic field can be created in a space between said antenna members, and

said resonance cell is provided in said space between the antenna portions of said metal rod.

13. A static magnetic field applying structure for use in an atomic oscillator according to claim 12, wherein a plurality of straight conductive patterns are provided in parallel on said inner layer, said antenna members are provided for each straight conductive pattern at both the ends thereof, and said coil-like circuit is formed so as to surround the straight conductive patterns collectively.

15. A static magnetic field applying structure for use in an atomic oscillator according to claim 12, wherein said atoms are rubidium atoms.

16. A static magnetic field applying structure for use in an atomic oscillator according to claim 13, wherein said atoms are rubidium atoms.