Patent ID: 6265945
Filing Date: 2001-07-24
Classification: G04F,H03L

Abstract:
In an atomic frequency standard based on Coherent Population Trapping of an atomic ensemble comprising an admixture of alkali metal atoms and at least one inert buffer gas, said frequency standard comprising:(A) an optical physics package including the following elements: (i) at least one solid state laser source for providing coherent radiation; (ii) optical modifier elements comprising a linear polarizer and a circular polarizer to least one laser source: (iii) a sealed resonance cell containing said admixture of alkali metal atoms and inert buffer gas therein, said resonance cell being optically transparent to receive therein light emanating from said at least one laser source and to transmit therefrom at least one of transmitted light and fluorescent light, and (iv) transmitted and fluorescent light from said resonance cell and(B) an electronic control and detection package,the improvement which comprises the combination of: a frame element to receive and support the elements of said optical physics and electronic control and detection packages, said optical physics package having no microwave cavity, said optical modifier elements being integrated with said at least one solid state laser source and said sealed resonance cell being of metallic construction with optical windows to receive and transmit light therethrough.