US 11,869,679 B2
Ramsey-bordé ion frequency-reference apparatus, and methods of making and using the same
Travis Autry, Calabasas, CA (US); Ian Counts, Santa Monica, CA (US); Jennifer Ellis, Calabasas, CA (US); Danny Kim, Agoura Hills, CA (US); and Christopher Roper, Oak Park, CA (US)
Assigned to HRL Laboratories, LLC, Malibu, CA (US)
Filed by HRL Laboratories, LLC, Malibu, CA (US)
Filed on Jan. 14, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/576,897.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/159,167, filed on Mar. 10, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0076629 A1, Mar. 9, 2023
Int. Cl. G21K 1/02 (2006.01); G21K 1/00 (2006.01); H03L 7/26 (2006.01); G04F 5/14 (2006.01)
CPC G21K 1/02 (2013.01) [G21K 1/006 (2013.01); H03L 7/26 (2013.01); G04F 5/14 (2013.01)] 38 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An interferometric frequency-reference apparatus, said apparatus comprising:
a vacuum chamber;
an atom source configured to supply neutral atoms to be ionized;
an ionizer configured to excite said neutral atoms to form ionized atoms;
an ion collimator configured to form a collimated beam of said ionized atoms;
one or more probe lasers; and
a readout laser configured to determine a ground-state population of said ionized atoms,
wherein said atom source, said ionizer, and said ion collimator are disposed within said vacuum chamber.