University of Connecticut

William C Stwalley

John T Bahns

Phillip L Gould

A noncontact method and apparatus for testing electrical circuitry which provides large improvements in both resolution and speed. The attributes of noncontact, high resolution, and speed are satisfied by using inexpensive low intensity resonant laser beams in a shroud gas preferably comprising rubidium atoms in argon gas to create an electrically conductive ion channel microprobe. The conductive ion channel microprobe can be used to create an electrically conductive path between a circuit's test pad or point and signal generation and detection apparatus. If the circuit's test pad or point is functioning properly, then the ion channel microprobe will complete the electrically conductive path, the signal generation device will produce a signal over the conductive path and the signal detection device will detect or measure the signal. If the circuit's test pad or point is malfunctioning, the conductive path will remain open and the signal detection device will not detect a signal.

Apparatus and method for producing an ion channel microprobe

A multiple single frequency laser for optical manipulation of molecules is presented. The multiple single frequency laser comprises generally a multiline laser source which utilizes one sample of molecular species as a source for the generation of optical radiation for manipulating (e.g., cooling) a second, separate sample of the same species of molecules. More specifically, the multiple single frequency (MSF) laser comprises a master controller for controlling the frequency of powerful single frequency pump lasers. Laser beams from the pump lasers excite coherent Raman transitions in molecules contained in a Raman gain cell. These beams are tuned to specific optical transitions in an electronic band of molecules. The molecules contained in the Raman gain cell generate the multiple frequencies needed to manipulate (e.g., cool) the same species of molecules in a second, separate sample. The Raman gain cell provides an output beam which is presented to a multistage optical amplifier for generating an amplified output beam. The amplified output beam is presented to a wavelength selector where unwanted frequencies are eliminated resulting in a MSF output beam. MSF output beam includes multiple laser frequencies all of which are synchronously controlled by controlling the frequency of the pump laser via the controller.

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Mansfield Center, CT, United States of America

William C Stwalley