US 11,940,374 B2
Continuous tunable RF sensor using rydberg atoms with high transmissivity
Karl D. Nelson, Plymouth, MN (US); Matthew Wade Puckett, Phoenix, AZ (US); Neal Eldrich Solmeyer, Edina, MN (US); and Robert Compton, Loretto, MN (US)
Assigned to Honeywell International Inc., Charlotte, NC (US)
Filed by Honeywell International Inc., Charlotte, NC (US)
Filed on Aug. 20, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/408,215.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/140,049, filed on Jan. 21, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0228972 A1, Jul. 21, 2022
Int. Cl. G01N 21/17 (2006.01); G02F 1/35 (2006.01); G02F 1/355 (2006.01); G02F 1/37 (2006.01); H01S 3/00 (2006.01); H01S 3/094 (2006.01); H01S 3/10 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 21/17 (2013.01) [G02F 1/3507 (2021.01); G02F 1/3551 (2013.01); G02F 1/37 (2013.01); H01S 3/0092 (2013.01); H01S 3/094096 (2013.01); H01S 3/10053 (2013.01); G02F 2202/20 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A continuously tunable radio frequency (RF) sensor system, the sensor system comprising:
a vapor cell including alkali atoms;
an optical train including,
a laser source lock system configured to generate probe light of a first wavelength;
a pump laser system configured to generate pump light of a select second wavelength, the pump laser system including,
at least a first pump laser to generate a first laser light of the select second wavelength,
at least a second pump laser to generate a second laser light of the select second wavelength, the probe light in communication with the first pump laser and the second pump laser to ensure a frequency of the first pump laser and the second pump laser is referenced to the alkali atoms in the vapor cell,
at least one frequency modulator configured to provide a local oscillator and at least one of frequency offsets, time-varying offsets and frequency sweeps to the first laser light and the second laser light,
a switch system configured to pass one of the first laser light and the second laser light to an amplifier, and
a frequency doubler coupled to receive amplified laser light from the amplifier, the frequency doubler configured to double a frequency of the amplified laser light to generate the pump light, the pump light and probe light transmitted through the vapor cell; and
a detector configured to measure the probe light passed through the vapor cell to determine if an RF signal has been detected.