Csem Centre Suisse D'electronique Et De Microtechnique Sa&#x2014;recherche Et D&#xe9;veloppement

Csem Centre Suisse D'electronique Et De Microtechnique Sa

Rolex Sa

Csem Centre Suisse D'electronique Et De Microtechnique Sa - Recherche Et Developpment

Jacques Haesler

Steve Lecomte

Thomas Overstolz

David Ruffieux

Guillaume Basset

Benjamin Gallinet

Laurent Balet

Vladislav Spassov

In the present invention a new atomic clock is proposed comprising: at least one light source adapted to provide an optical beam, at least one photo detector and a vapor cell comprising a first optical window, said optical beam being directed through said vapor cell for providing an optical frequency reference signal, said photo detector being adapted to detect said optical frequency reference signal and to generate at least one reference signal, wherein&#x2014;said atomic clock comprises a first optical waveguide arranged to said first optical window, said first optical waveguide being arranged to incouple at least a portion of said optical beam, said first optical waveguide being sized and shaped so that said first guided light beam is expanded, a first outcoupler is arranged to outcouple at least a portion of said guided light beam to said vapor cell, &#x2014;the thickness t of the atomic clock is smaller than 15 nm.

Atomic clock

The invention concerns a micro-machined vapor cell comprising a central silicon element forming a cavity containing vapor cell reactants such as alkali metal or alkali metal azide, buffer gas(es), and/or anti relaxation coating(s); a first and a second glass caps sealing the cavity; and a solenoid arranged to provide a homogeneous magnetic field to said vapor cell. The solenoid is coiled directly on the central silicon element of the vapor cell. This invention is an improvement for the highly miniaturized atomic clocks developments.

Micro-machined vapor cell

A wristwatch, which comprises an atomic oscillator comprising a system for detecting the beat frequencies obtained by the Raman effect.

Wristwatch with atomic oscillator

The present invention relates to a method for producing a microfabricated atomic vapor cell, including a step of forming at least one cavity in a substrate and closing the cavity at one side. The method further includes: &#x2014;a step of depositing a solution including an alkali metal azide dissolved in at least one of its solvents, &#x2014;a step of evaporating such solvent for forming a recrystallized alkali metal azide, &#x2014;a step of decomposing the recrystallized alkali metal azide in an alkali metal and nitrogen, such alkali metal depositing in the cavity of the substrate.

Method for producing a microfabricated atomic vapor cell

A device for an atomic clock, including: a laser source () generating a laser beam; a quarter-wave plate () modifying the linear polarization of the laser beam into a circular polarization and vice versa; a gas cell () placed on the laser beam having a circular polarization; a mirror () sending the laser beam back toward the gas cell; a first photodetector (); means () for diverting the reflected beam of the laser source (), and a second photodetector () placed behind the mirror (), the mirror being semitransparent and allowing a portion of the laser beam to pass therethrough, the second photodetector () being used for controlling the optical frequency of the laser and/or for controlling the temperature of the cell ().

Device for an atomic clock

A device for an atomic clock, including: a laser source () that generates a laser beam; a splitter () that makes it possible to divert and allow a portion of the laser beam to pass therethrough in accordance with a predefined percentage; a quarter-wave plate () that modifies the linear polarization of the laser beam into circular polarization and vice versa; a gas cell arranged on the circular polarization laser beam; a mirror () sending the laser beam back toward the gas cell (); a first photodetector (), and a polarizer () arranged between the laser beam outlet and the splitter in order to protect the laser source from the retroreflections emitted by different optical elements constituting the device.

Growing community of inventors

Lugnorre, Switzerland

Jacques Haesler