Atom cell, method of manufacturing atom cell, quantum interference device, atomic oscillator, electronic apparatus, and moving object

Abstract

An atom cell is provided with an internal space including a space formed of a through hole housing gaseous alkali metal, a space formed of a through hole housing a compound as an alkali metal emission material, and a space formed of a through hole housing liquid or solid alkali metal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An atom cell comprising:
 a side wall having top and bottom openings;   first and second window substrates that are airtightly fixed to the first and second openings, respectively, so as to form an internal space; and   alkali metal atoms that are housed in the internal space;   wherein the internal space includes:
 a first region housing the alkali metal atoms in a gas state; 
 a second region housing the alkali metal atoms in one of a liquid state and a solid state; and 
 a connection path that is spacially-coupled between the first and second regions, and 
   a combined part of the side wall and the first window substrate, which are located directly adjacent to the second region, has a groove.   
     
     
         2 . The atom cell according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the combined part has a projection, and   the projection outwardly projects from an outer surface of the side wall.   
     
     
         3 . The atom cell according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein partial pressure of a gas other than the gaseous alkali metal atoms in the internal space is equal to or lower than 10 −4  Pa.   
     
     
         4 . A method of manufacturing an atom cell, the method comprising:
 preparing an airtightly-formed cell container having an internal space, the internal space including:
 a first region; 
 a second region that is spacially connected to the first region via a first connection path; and 
 a third region that is spacially connected to the second region via a second connection path so that the first, second, and third regions are spacially connected to each other, the third region having a solid compound including alkali metal; 
   heating the solid compound so as to emit alkali metal atoms, wherein the first and second regions have the alkali metal atoms in a gas state;   adjusting a temperature of the second region to a level lower than a temperature of the first region so that the second region houses the alkali metal atoms in one of a liquid state and a solid state;   melting a material of the airtightly-formed cell container, which is located directly adjacent to the second connection path, so that the second connection path is sealed by the melted material; and   cutting part of the airtightly-formed cell container including the third region so that the melted material of the airtightly-formed cell container is part of a periphery of the atom cell.   
     
     
         5 . The method of manufacturing an atom cell according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein partial pressure of a gas other than the gaseous alkali metal atoms in the internal space is equal to or lower than 10 −4  Pa.   
     
     
         6 . The method of manufacturing an atom cell according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein in the preparing, a plurality of the airtightly-formed cell containers are connected to one another.   
     
     
         7 . A quantum interference device comprising:
 the atom cell according to  claim 1 ; and   a light source that emits light to the atom cell.   
     
     
         8 . The quantum interference device according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein the first region is higher in temperature than the second region.   
     
     
         9 . A quantum interference device comprising:
 the atom cell according to  claim 2 ; and   a light source that emits light to the atom cell.   
     
     
         10 . The quantum interference device according to  claim 9 ,
 wherein the first region is higher in temperature than the second region.   
     
     
         11 . A quantum interference device comprising:
 the atom cell according to  claim 3 ; and   a light source that emits light to the atom cell.   
     
     
         12 . The quantum interference device according to  claim 11 ,
 wherein the first region is higher in temperature than the second region.   
     
     
         13 . An atomic oscillator comprising:
 the atom cell according to  claim 1 ;   a light source that emits light to the atom cell; and   a light detector that receives light which passes through the atomic cell.   
     
     
         14 . An atomic oscillator comprising:
 the atom cell according to  claim 2 ;   a light source that emits light to the atom cell; and   a light detector that receives light which passes through the atomic cell.   
     
     
         15 . An atomic oscillator comprising:
 the atom cell according to  claim 3 ;   a light source that emits light to the atom cell; and   a light detector that receives light which passes through the atomic cell.   
     
     
         16 . An electronic apparatus comprising:
 the atom cell according to  claim 1 ; and   a signal receiver that receive a signal form an external device,   wherein the atom cell is located in the signal receiver.   
     
     
         17 . An electronic apparatus comprising:
 the atom cell according to  claim 2 ; and   a signal receiver that receive a signal form an external device,   wherein the atom cell is located in the signal receiver.   
     
     
         18 . An electronic apparatus comprising:
 the atom cell according to  claim 3 ; and   a signal receiver that receive a signal form an external device,   wherein the atom cell is located in the signal receiver.   
     
     
         19 . A moving object comprising:
 the atom cell according to  claim 1 ; and   a movable body that houses the atom cell.   
     
     
         20 . A moving object comprising:
 the atom cell according to  claim 2 ; and   a movable body that houses the atom cell.