Patent Number: 
Section: abstract

The present invention provides a vapor-cell system comprising: a vapor-cell region configured for vapor-cell optical paths; a first electrode disposed in contact with the vapor-cell region; a second electrode electrically isolated from the first electrode; and an ion conductor interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The first electrode, the ion conductor, and the second electrode collectively form a bidirectional solid-state electrochemical charge-depletion capacitor. The ion conductor is ionically conductive for mobile ions, such as Rb+, Cs+, Na+, K+, or Sr2+. The first electrode is permeable to the mobile ions and/or neutral atoms formed from the mobile ions. The system can be electrically controlled to quickly pump mobile ions into or out of the vapor-cell region. The system may further contain an atom chip, and the vapor-cell optical paths may be configured to trap a population of cold atoms. Methods of operating these vapor-cell systems are also disclosed.