Observatoire Cantonal De Neuchatel

Orolia Switzerland Sa

Pascal Rochat

Giovanni Busca

Laurent-Guy Bernier

Bernard Leuenberger

Hartmut S Schweda

The present invention concerns a device () for an atomic clock. The device has a printed circuit board (), a heating source, and microwave conductor. The printed circuit board () includes a conductive piece () for both interrogating and heating a gas in a cell of an atomic clock. The piece () has a gap (), and is arranged for containing the cell (), so as to directly touch the cell () in at least one point. The heating source () generates heat, and is connected to the piece (). The microwave conductor () is arranged to be connected to the piece () so as to send to the piece () a microwave signal for interrogating the atoms of the gas in the cell (). This device performs more than one function (e.g. heating and interrogating) and simplify the manufacturing of the atomic clock.

Device for an atomic clock

An atomic maser comprises a walled enclosure (76) defining a resonant cavity (4), and a storage bulb (8) for storing a medium capable of stimulated emission. The storage bulb is a sapphire cylinder (70) that is open at both ends and has two closure members (71,72) for closing the open ends. The closure members are made substantially of titanium and have a coating (73,74) of polyfluoroethene formed on their inner surfaces. At least one of the closure members (71,72) forms part of the walled enclosure.

Atomic maser with cylindrical sapphire storage bulb

An atomic maser includes a circuit (25) for effecting a shift in the frequency of a signal injected into a resonant cavity (4) so as to generate alternately a first and a second signal portion having respectively a frequency greater than and less than the natural frequency of stimulated emission, the first and second signal portions having a periodicity corresponding to a predetermined interrogation period. Circuitry (31,32,33,51,52) is responsive to a signal detected in the cavity (4) to produce an error signal representing the difference between the amplitude of the detected signal in response to the injection of the first and second signal portions. Further circuitry (53,54) adjusts the resonant frequency of the cavity in response to the error signal. A pulse generator 26 and a mixer 28 periodically apply both the first and second signal portions for a limited duration only during the interrogation period.

Active hydrogen maser atomic frequency standard

The atomic frequency standard has a heating element (58) surrounding an enclosure (43) which defines a microwave resonance cavity (42). The heating element supplies heat to an absorption cell (41) located in the cavity. The absorption cell (41) is surrounded by electrodes (45a-45d) which act to enhance and orient the oscillating magnetic field in the region of the absorption cell. Thermally conductive members (47a-47d) connect the electrodes (45a-45d) to the enclosure (43) to better control the temperature of the cell while retaining the advantages due to the presence of the electrodes (45a-45d).

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Marin, Switzerland

Pascal Rochat