|
Chip-Scale Atomic Devices at NIST
|
|
The NIST program on chip scale
atomic devices (CSAD) seeks to design, build and characterize miniature
atomic instruments and sensors based on fabrication techniques
traditionally used in the field of microelectronics and
micro-electric-mechanical systems (MEMS). We are currently building
structures (such as those shown above) that are the size of a grain of rice
(V < 10 mm3) and could run on a AA battery (dissipate < 75 mW).
These atomic clocks are stable enough that they neither gain nor lose more
than ten millionths of a second over the course of one day, and are paving
the way for atomic-level timekeeping in portable, battery-operated systems
such as global positioning receivers and wireless communication devices.
The 2007 NIST-CSAD Team
Research
positions available
New results:
New May 2007:
Differential atomic
magnetometry with a diverging laser beam
The Physics of Coherent Population Trapping
-
Coherent population trapping (CPT)
-
Atomic clocks based on
CPT
-
High-contrast CPT resonances
-
Differential coherent population trapping (coming
soon)
-
Wall-coated alkali vapor cells (coming soon)
Chip-scale atomic clocks:
-
Physics package fabrication
-
Performance
-
Electronics and local oscillator
-
Power and thermal management
-
Applications
-
Long term frequency stability of chip-scale
atomic clocks
-
Basic questions and answers
Advanced chip-scale atomic clocks:
-
CSACs with improved short-term stability
-
Atomic vapor cells with improved long-term
stability
-
Long-term frequency stability of
chip-scale atomic clocks
Chip-scale atomic magnetometers:
-
A chip-scale atomic magnetometer based on CPT
-
Atoms coupled to magnetic, mechanically
resonant microstructures
-
A self-oscillating Rubidium magnetometer using nonlinear magneto-optic
rotation
Acknowledgements:
This work was carried out in collaboration with the
Electromagnetic Technology
Division with funding from NIST and the Microsystems Technology Office at
the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
For additional information on this work, please contact
John Kitching.
List of References
New December 2005:
V. Gerginov, S. Knappe, P. D. D. Schwindt, V. Shah, L. Hollberg, and J.
Kitching, "Long-term frequency instability of CPT clocks with
microfabricated vapor cells," Accepted, J. Opt. Soc. Am. B.
S. Knappe, P. D. D. Schwindt, V. Gerginov, V. Shah, L. Liew, J. Moreland,
H. G. Robinson, L. Hollberg, and J. Kitching, "Microfabricated Atomic Clocks
and Magnetometers," Accepted, J. Phys. A.
P. D. D. Schwindt, L. Hollberg, and J. Kitching, "Self-oscillating Rb
magnetometer using non-linear magneto-optic rotation," Rev. Sci.
Instrum., 76, 126103, 2005.
J. Kitching, S. Knappe, L. Liew, P. D. D. Schwindt, V. Gerginov, V.
Shah, J. Moreland, A. Brannon, J. Breitbarth, Z. Popovic, and L. Hollberg,
"Chip-Scale Atomic Frequency References," presented at ION-GNSS, Long Beach,
CA, 2005.
J. Moreland, J. Kitching, P. D. D. Schwindt, S. Knappe, L. Liew, V. Shah, V.
Gerginov, Y.-J. Wang, and L. Hollberg, "Chip-scale atomic magnetometers,"
presented at 2005 Meeting of the Military Sensing Symposia (MSS) Specialty
Group on Battlefield Acoustic and Seismic Sensing, Magnetic and Electric
Field Sensors (BAMS), Laurel, MD, 2005.
V. Gerginov, S. Knappe, P. D. D. Schwindt, V. Shah, L. Liew, J. Moreland, H.
G. Robinson, L. Hollberg, J. Kitching, A. Brannon, J. Breitbarth, and Z.
Popovic, "Component-Level
Demonstration of a Microfabricated Atomic Frequency Reference,"
presented at Joint IEEE International Frequency Control Symposium and
Precise Time and Time Interval (PTTI) Systems and Applications Meeting,
Vancouver, Canada, 2005.
S. Knappe, P. D. D. Schwindt, V. Gerginov, V. Shah, H. G. Robinson, L.
Hollberg, and J. Kitching, "Microfabricated Atomic Clocks and
Magnetometers," presented at International Conference on Laser Spectroscopy,
Cairngorms National Park, Scotland 2005.
J. Kitching, S. Knappe, L. Liew, J. Moreland, H. G. Robinson, P. D. D.
Schwindt, V. Shah, and L. Hollberg, "Microfabricated atomic clocks,"
presented at 18th IEEE International Conference on Micro Electro Mechanical
Systems, Miami, FL, 2005.
J. Kitching, S. Knappe, L. Liew, J. Moreland, H. G. Robinson, P. D. D.
Schwindt, V. Shah, V. Gerginov, and L. Hollberg, "Chip-scale atomic clocks
at NIST," presented at Proc. Nat. Conf. Stand. Lab. Int. (NCSLI),
Washington, DC, 2005.
J. Kitching, S. Knappe, L. Liew, J. Moreland, H. G. Robinson, P. D. D.
Schwindt, V. Shah, V. Gerginov, and L. Hollberg, "Chip-Scale Atomic
Frequency References: Fabrication and Performance," presented at Proceedings
of the European Frequency and Time Forum, Besancon, France, 2005.