Atomic clocks and related methods

Abstract

According to some aspects of the present disclosure, an atomic clock and methods of forming and/or using an atomic clock are disclosed. In one embodiment, an atomic clock includes: a light source configured to illuminate a resonance vapor cell; a narrowband optical filter disposed between the light source and the resonance vapor cell and arranged such that light emitted from the light source passes through the narrowband optical filter and illuminates the resonance vapor cell. The resonance vapor cell is configured to emit a signal corresponding to a hyperfine transition frequency in response to illumination from the light source, and a filter cell is disposed between the light source and the resonance vapor cell and configured to generate optical pumping. An optical detector is configured to detect the emitted signal corresponding to the hyperfine transition frequency.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An atomic clock comprising:
 a light source configured to illuminate a resonance vapor cell;   a narrowband optical filter disposed between the light source and the resonance vapor cell and arranged such that light emitted from the light source passes through the narrowband optical filter and illuminates the resonance vapor cell, wherein the resonance vapor cell is configured to emit a signal corresponding to a hyperfine transition frequency in response to illumination from the light source;   a filter cell disposed between the light source and the resonance vapor cell and configured to generate optical pumping; and   an optical detector configured to detect the emitted signal corresponding to the hyperfine transition frequency.   
     
     
         2 . The atomic clock of  claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode configured to illuminate the resonance vapor cell. 
     
     
         3 . The atomic clock of  claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises a quantum dot laser configured to illuminate the resonance vapor cell. 
     
     
         4 . The atomic clock of  claim 3 , wherein the filter cell is comprised at least partially of Rubidium. 
     
     
         5 . The atomic clock of  claim 1 , wherein the resonance vapor cell is comprised at least partially of Rubidium or Cesium. 
     
     
         6 . The atomic clock of  claim 1 , wherein the atomic clock is configured as a chip-scale atomic clock. 
     
     
         7 . An atomic clock comprising:
 a light emitting diode or quantum dot laser, configured to illuminate a resonance vapor cell;   a narrowband optical filter disposed between the light emitting diode or quantum dot and the resonance vapor cell and arranged such that light emitted from the light emitting diode or quantum dot laser passes through the narrowband optical filter and illuminates the resonance vapor cell, wherein the resonance vapor cell is configured to emit a signal corresponding to a hyperfine transition frequency in response to illumination from the light emitting diode or quantum dot laser;   a filter cell disposed between the light source and the resonance vapor cell; and   an optical detector configured to detect the emitted signal corresponding to the hyperfine transition frequency.   
     
     
         8 . The atomic clock of  claim 7 , wherein the filter cell is comprised at least partially of Rubidium. 
     
     
         9 . The atomic clock of  claim 8 , wherein the narrowband optical filter is disposed on a surface of the filter cell. 
     
     
         10 . The atomic clock of  claim 7 , wherein the resonance vapor cell is comprised at least partially of Rubidium or Cesium. 
     
     
         11 . The atomic clock of  claim 7 , wherein the atomic clock is configured as a chip-scale atomic clock. 
     
     
         12 . The atomic clock of  claim 7 , wherein the optical detector comprises a photodiode. 
     
     
         13 . A method relating to an atomic clock, comprising:
 illuminating, by a light emitting diode or quantum dot laser, a resonance vapor cell, wherein the resonance vapor cell is configured to emit a signal corresponding to a hyperfine transition frequency in response to illumination from the light emitting diode or quantum dot laser;   generating optical pumping by a filter cell disposed between the light source and the resonance vapor cell   filtering, by a narrowband optical filter, light emitted from the light emitting diode or quantum dot laser such that the emitted light passes through the narrowband optical filter and illuminates the resonance vapor cell; and   detecting, by an optical detector, the emitted signal corresponding to the hyperfine transition frequency.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , comprising applying a C field as a magnetic field to produce narrow magnetic resonance linewidth and produce clock stability through low drift clock signal. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , comprising providing a magnetic shield that encompasses at least the light emitting diode or quantum dot laser, resonance vapor cell, narrowband optical filter, and optical detector, and wherein the magnetic shield is configured to minimize a magnetic field causing broadening or shifting of energy levels. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the filter cell comprises at least partially of Rubidium. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the resonance vapor cell is comprised at least partially of Rubidium. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the resonance vapor cell is comprised at least partially Cesium. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the optical detector comprises a photodiode. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , comprising forming an atomic clock that includes at least:
 the light emitting diode or quantum dot laser;   the resonance vapor cell;   the narrowband optical filter;   the filter cell; and   the optical detector.