US3242423A - Resonance cells for optical pumping - Google Patents
Resonance cells for optical pumping Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3242423A US3242423A US250382A US25038263A US3242423A US 3242423 A US3242423 A US 3242423A US 250382 A US250382 A US 250382A US 25038263 A US25038263 A US 25038263A US 3242423 A US3242423 A US 3242423A
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- bulb
- vessel
- metal
- optical pumping
- pumping
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- 238000005086 pumping Methods 0.000 title claims description 20
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 title claims description 14
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 16
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 claims description 16
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 claims description 10
- 229920006395 saturated elastomer Polymers 0.000 claims description 6
- 229910052783 alkali metal Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 5
- 150000001340 alkali metals Chemical class 0.000 claims description 5
- XKRFYHLGVUSROY-UHFFFAOYSA-N Argon Chemical compound [Ar] XKRFYHLGVUSROY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 2
- RZVAJINKPMORJF-UHFFFAOYSA-N Acetaminophen Chemical compound CC(=O)NC1=CC=C(O)C=C1 RZVAJINKPMORJF-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910052786 argon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910052792 caesium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- TVFDJXOCXUVLDH-UHFFFAOYSA-N caesium atom Chemical compound [Cs] TVFDJXOCXUVLDH-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- -1 cesium or rubidium Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 230000006378 damage Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002349 favourable effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920001296 polysiloxane Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000005297 pyrex Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052701 rubidium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- IGLNJRXAVVLDKE-UHFFFAOYSA-N rubidium atom Chemical compound [Rb] IGLNJRXAVVLDKE-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N27/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of electric, electrochemical, or magnetic means
- G01N27/72—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of electric, electrochemical, or magnetic means by investigating magnetic variables
- G01N27/74—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of electric, electrochemical, or magnetic means by investigating magnetic variables of fluids
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
- G01R33/00—Arrangements or instruments for measuring magnetic variables
- G01R33/20—Arrangements or instruments for measuring magnetic variables involving magnetic resonance
- G01R33/24—Arrangements or instruments for measuring magnetic variables involving magnetic resonance for measuring direction or magnitude of magnetic fields or magnetic flux
- G01R33/26—Arrangements or instruments for measuring magnetic variables involving magnetic resonance for measuring direction or magnitude of magnetic fields or magnetic flux using optical pumping
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G04—HOROLOGY
- G04F—TIME-INTERVAL MEASURING
- G04F5/00—Apparatus for producing preselected time intervals for use as timing standards
- G04F5/14—Apparatus for producing preselected time intervals for use as timing standards using atomic clocks
Definitions
- RESONANCE CELLS FOR OPTICAL PUMPING Filed Jan. 9, 1963 United States Patent 3 242 423 RESGNANCE CELLS F0 R OPTICAL PUMPING Lon Malnar, Paris, France, assignor to C.S.F.Compagnie gnrale de tlgraphie Sans Fil, a corporation of The present invention relates to resonance cells for optical pumping.
- Such cells may be used in many applications, for example in certain magnetometers. They may comprise a glass or Pyrex vessel containing an alkali metal, such as cesium or rubidium, and saturated vapour of this metal and, in a magnetometer, the vapour is subjected to the action of a uniform magnetic field.
- the saturated vapour is at a low pressure and the mean free path of the atom is greater than the dimensions of the vessel.
- the vapour atoms are subjected to a large number of impacts against the wall, resulting in the destruction of the favourable orientation due to optical pumping.
- a rare gas such as argon
- the walls of the vessel may be coated with a layer of parafiin or silicone against which the atoms may be rebound without changing their orientation.
- This layer has to be very thin, so as to maintain the transparency of the vessel to the light from the optical pump and this makes it difficult to coat certain portions of the vessel, for example the pumping stem, with the protecting layer.
- the collision of the atoms of the gaseous metal against the solid metal also contributes to change the orientation of these atoms.
- the metal in solid state is contained in a portion of the cell building up a bulb formed in the wall of the cell and communicating with the latter through a bent portion.
- This bulb is, for example, arranged to be in symmetrical relationship to the pumping stem, with respect to the axis of symmetry of the body of the cell.
- FIGS. 1 and 2 show, very diagrammatically, various embodiments of a vessel for resonance cells according to the invention.
- Vessel 1 is provided with a pumping stem 2 for evacuating vessel 1 and introducing rare gas therein.
- a bulb 3, integral with vessel 1, is arranged for receiving metal 4 in solid state.
- bulb 3 and the pumping stem 2 are positioned symmetrically with respect to the axis of vessel 1.
- bulb 3 communicates with vessel 1 through a bent por- 3,242,423 Patented Mar. 22, 1966 tion 6 so that the metal in solid state 4 does not directly face the body of vessel 1.
- the pumping stem 2 has also a bent portion 7 similar to that of bulb 3.
- the arrangement shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 makes it possible to avoid the disorientation of the atoms of the vaporized metal through collision with the solid metal 4, while a substantial amount of the latter can be placed in bulb 3.
- the body of vessel 1 may be spherically shaped, which reduces the impacts of atoms against the walls.
- the number of these impacts is, as known, proportional to the surface of the body, whereas, for a given pressure, the number of the atoms is proportional to the volume of the body.
- the ratio of the volume to the inner surface is a maximum; it follows that the coefiicient of disorientation through impacts against the walls is a minimum when vessel 1 has a spherical shape.
- the magnetic field applied may be, for example, perpendicular to the axis of the cell.
- the cell may then assume any desired position around an axis perpendicular to the magnetic field, without this resulting in any particular trouble as to the space required.
- the described vessels are of course made of a material transparent to the light of the pump. They can contain a large amount of metal in solid state.
- a resonance cell for optical pumping systems comprising in combination: a vacuum tight vessel having walls and including a main body, a bulb having a bent portion, formed in one of said walls and communicating with said body, and a pumping stem; and an alkali metal in said bulb and saturated vapour of this metal filling said vessel, whereby metal in the solid state in said bulb does not directly face said body.
- a resonance cell for optical pumping systems comprising in combination: a vacuum tight vessel, having walls and an axis of symmetry, and including a main body, a bulb having a bent portion formed in one of said walls and communicating with said body, and a bent pumping stern; an alkali metal in said bulb and saturated vapour of this metal filling said vessel; said stern and said bulb being arranged symmetrically with respect to said axis, whereby metal in the solid state in said bulb does not directly face said body.
- a resonance cell for optical pumping systems comprising in combination: a vacuum tight rotational vessel having a lateral wall and including a main body, a bulb having a bent portion, formed in said wall and communicating with said body, and a pumping stern; an alkali metal in said bulb and saturated vapour of this metal filling said vessel, whereby metal in the solid state in said bulb does not directly face said body.
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- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
- Biochemistry (AREA)
- Electrochemistry (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Immunology (AREA)
- Pathology (AREA)
- Condensed Matter Physics & Semiconductors (AREA)
- Discharge Lamps And Accessories Thereof (AREA)
- Optical Measuring Cells (AREA)
Description
March 22, 1966 MALNAR 3,242,423
RESONANCE CELLS FOR OPTICAL PUMPING Filed Jan. 9, 1963 United States Patent 3 242 423 RESGNANCE CELLS F0 R OPTICAL PUMPING Lon Malnar, Paris, France, assignor to C.S.F.Compagnie gnrale de tlgraphie Sans Fil, a corporation of The present invention relates to resonance cells for optical pumping. Such cells may be used in many applications, for example in certain magnetometers. They may comprise a glass or Pyrex vessel containing an alkali metal, such as cesium or rubidium, and saturated vapour of this metal and, in a magnetometer, the vapour is subjected to the action of a uniform magnetic field.
Under the action of an optical pump the population of excited atoms, the magnetic moment of which is parallel to the magnetic field applied, increases.
However, known cells of this type have a major drawback.
The saturated vapour is at a low pressure and the mean free path of the atom is greater than the dimensions of the vessel. The vapour atoms are subjected to a large number of impacts against the wall, resulting in the destruction of the favourable orientation due to optical pumping.
To eliminate this drawback, a rare gas, such as argon, may be introduced into the vessel at a pressure higher than that of the vapour, or else the walls of the vessel may be coated with a layer of parafiin or silicone against which the atoms may be rebound without changing their orientation.
This layer has to be very thin, so as to maintain the transparency of the vessel to the light from the optical pump and this makes it difficult to coat certain portions of the vessel, for example the pumping stem, with the protecting layer.
In addition, the collision of the atoms of the gaseous metal against the solid metal also contributes to change the orientation of these atoms.
It is an object of the invention to provide a resonant cell for optical pumping, which does not present those drawbacks.
According to a feature of the invention, the metal in solid state is contained in a portion of the cell building up a bulb formed in the wall of the cell and communicating with the latter through a bent portion. This bulb is, for example, arranged to be in symmetrical relationship to the pumping stem, with respect to the axis of symmetry of the body of the cell.
The invention will be best understood from the following description and appended drawing, wherein:
FIGS. 1 and 2 show, very diagrammatically, various embodiments of a vessel for resonance cells according to the invention.
The same reference numerals designate the same elements throughout all the figures.
Vessel 1 is provided with a pumping stem 2 for evacuating vessel 1 and introducing rare gas therein. A bulb 3, integral with vessel 1, is arranged for receiving metal 4 in solid state.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, it may be seen that bulb 3 and the pumping stem 2 are positioned symmetrically with respect to the axis of vessel 1. In these figures, bulb 3 communicates with vessel 1 through a bent por- 3,242,423 Patented Mar. 22, 1966 tion 6 so that the metal in solid state 4 does not directly face the body of vessel 1.
In FIG. 2, the pumping stem 2 has also a bent portion 7 similar to that of bulb 3. The arrangement shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 makes it possible to avoid the disorientation of the atoms of the vaporized metal through collision with the solid metal 4, while a substantial amount of the latter can be placed in bulb 3.
The body of vessel 1 may be spherically shaped, which reduces the impacts of atoms against the walls. The number of these impacts is, as known, proportional to the surface of the body, whereas, for a given pressure, the number of the atoms is proportional to the volume of the body. In a sphere the ratio of the volume to the inner surface is a maximum; it follows that the coefiicient of disorientation through impacts against the walls is a minimum when vessel 1 has a spherical shape.
- The magnetic field applied may be, for example, perpendicular to the axis of the cell. The cell may then assume any desired position around an axis perpendicular to the magnetic field, without this resulting in any particular trouble as to the space required.
The described vessels are of course made of a material transparent to the light of the pump. They can contain a large amount of metal in solid state.
Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments shown which are given solely by way of example.
What is claimed is:
1. A resonance cell for optical pumping systems comprising in combination: a vacuum tight vessel having walls and including a main body, a bulb having a bent portion, formed in one of said walls and communicating with said body, and a pumping stem; and an alkali metal in said bulb and saturated vapour of this metal filling said vessel, whereby metal in the solid state in said bulb does not directly face said body.
2. A resonance cell for optical pumping systems comprising in combination: a vacuum tight vessel, having walls and an axis of symmetry, and including a main body, a bulb having a bent portion formed in one of said walls and communicating with said body, and a bent pumping stern; an alkali metal in said bulb and saturated vapour of this metal filling said vessel; said stern and said bulb being arranged symmetrically with respect to said axis, whereby metal in the solid state in said bulb does not directly face said body.
3. A resonance cell for optical pumping systems comprising in combination: a vacuum tight rotational vessel having a lateral wall and including a main body, a bulb having a bent portion, formed in said wall and communicating with said body, and a pumping stern; an alkali metal in said bulb and saturated vapour of this metal filling said vessel, whereby metal in the solid state in said bulb does not directly face said body.
References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,884,524 4/1959 Dicke 324-0.5 3,038,126 6/1962 Robinson 3240.5
FOREIGN PATENTS 1,215,432 11/1959 France.
875,242 8/ 1961 Great Britain.
(Other references on following page) 3 OTHER REFERENCES Carpenter et al.: Physical Review, vol. 46, October 1934, pp. 607 to 612.
De Zafra: American Journal of Physics, vol. 28, No. 7, October 1960, pp. 646 to 654 incl.
Franzen: Physical Review, vol. 115, No. 4, Aug. 15, 1949, pages 850 to 856 inclusive.
Kastler: The Ann Arbor Conference on Optical PumpingUniversity of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, June 1959, pp. 71-73 principally relied on.
4 Novick: Ann Arbor Conference on Optical Pumping, pages 11 to 16 relied on.
Ritter et 211.: Royal Society of London, Proceedings, vol. 238, N0. 1215, Jan. 29, 1957, pp. 473 to 488 (pp. 477479 principally relied on).
CHESTER L. JUSTUS, Primary Examiner.
MAYNARD R. WILBUR, Examiner.
Claims (1)
1. A RESONANCE CELL FOR OPTICAL PUMPING SYSTEMS COMPRISING IN COMBINATION; A VACUUM TIGHT VESSEL HAVING WALLS AND INCLUDING A MAIN BODY, A BULB HAVING A BENT PORTION, FORMED IN ONE OF SAID WALLS AND COMMUNICATING WITH SAID BODY, AND A PUMPING STEM; AND AN ALKALI METAL IN SAID BULB AND SATURATED VAPOUR OF THIS METAL FILLING SAID VESSEL, WHEREBY METAL IN THE SOLID STATE IN SAID BULB DOES NOT DIRECTLY FACE SAID BODY.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| FR884376A FR1318738A (en) | 1962-01-10 | 1962-01-10 | Optical pumping resonance cell enhancements |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| US3242423A true US3242423A (en) | 1966-03-22 |
Family
ID=8770212
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| US250382A Expired - Lifetime US3242423A (en) | 1962-01-10 | 1963-01-09 | Resonance cells for optical pumping |
Country Status (4)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US3242423A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE1295082B (en) |
| FR (1) | FR1318738A (en) |
| GB (1) | GB1036002A (en) |
Cited By (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3418565A (en) * | 1965-07-22 | 1968-12-24 | Csf | Optical resonance cells |
| US3510758A (en) * | 1967-11-14 | 1970-05-05 | Varian Associates | Atomic resonance gas cell having an evacuated double end wall structure |
| US3536993A (en) * | 1967-10-18 | 1970-10-27 | Csf | Optical resonance cells |
| US3629697A (en) * | 1968-12-12 | 1971-12-21 | Agencie Nationale De Valorisat | Paramagnetic resonance and optical pumping magnetometer in the near zero magnetic field-range |
| US3675067A (en) * | 1968-02-02 | 1972-07-04 | Csf | Optical resonance cell with means for regulating internal vapor pressure |
| US4405905A (en) * | 1980-01-11 | 1983-09-20 | Oscilloquartz S.A. | Atomic frequency standard having microwave loop around absorption cell |
| US4596962A (en) * | 1983-11-03 | 1986-06-24 | Duke University | Evacuated, wall-coated, sealed, alkali atom cell for an atomic frequency standard |
| US5256995A (en) * | 1992-07-17 | 1993-10-26 | Ball Corporation | Low helium permeability atomic frequency standard cell and method for forming same |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US6295834B1 (en) * | 1999-06-30 | 2001-10-02 | Medi-Physics, Inc. | NMR polarization monitoring coils, hyperpolarizers with same, and methods for determining the polarization level of accumulated hyperpolarized noble gases during production |
Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2884524A (en) * | 1955-08-01 | 1959-04-28 | Robert H Dicke | Method and system employing photon absorption by a microwave resonant medium |
| FR1215432A (en) * | 1957-12-10 | 1960-04-19 | Int Standard Electric Corp | Improvements to micrometric oscillations production devices |
| GB875242A (en) * | 1958-02-21 | 1961-08-16 | Varian Associates | Atomic stabilized frequency source |
| US3038126A (en) * | 1960-11-22 | 1962-06-05 | Space Technology Lab Inc | Tuning arrangement utilizing optical pumping |
Family Cites Families (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE553701C (en) * | 1932-06-29 | Karl Edmund Hermann Pressler | Melting nozzle for vacuum vessels with a liquid bottom body | |
| US1854912A (en) * | 1930-01-18 | 1932-04-19 | Ne Arga Corp | Lamp starting device |
| NL39334C (en) * | 1932-07-01 | |||
| FR1250157A (en) * | 1959-03-03 | 1961-01-06 | Varian Associates | Electrode-less discharge lamp |
-
1962
- 1962-01-10 FR FR884376A patent/FR1318738A/en not_active Expired
-
1963
- 1963-01-08 GB GB928/63A patent/GB1036002A/en not_active Expired
- 1963-01-09 DE DEC28863A patent/DE1295082B/en active Pending
- 1963-01-09 US US250382A patent/US3242423A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2884524A (en) * | 1955-08-01 | 1959-04-28 | Robert H Dicke | Method and system employing photon absorption by a microwave resonant medium |
| FR1215432A (en) * | 1957-12-10 | 1960-04-19 | Int Standard Electric Corp | Improvements to micrometric oscillations production devices |
| GB875242A (en) * | 1958-02-21 | 1961-08-16 | Varian Associates | Atomic stabilized frequency source |
| US3038126A (en) * | 1960-11-22 | 1962-06-05 | Space Technology Lab Inc | Tuning arrangement utilizing optical pumping |
Cited By (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3418565A (en) * | 1965-07-22 | 1968-12-24 | Csf | Optical resonance cells |
| US3536993A (en) * | 1967-10-18 | 1970-10-27 | Csf | Optical resonance cells |
| US3510758A (en) * | 1967-11-14 | 1970-05-05 | Varian Associates | Atomic resonance gas cell having an evacuated double end wall structure |
| US3675067A (en) * | 1968-02-02 | 1972-07-04 | Csf | Optical resonance cell with means for regulating internal vapor pressure |
| US3629697A (en) * | 1968-12-12 | 1971-12-21 | Agencie Nationale De Valorisat | Paramagnetic resonance and optical pumping magnetometer in the near zero magnetic field-range |
| US4405905A (en) * | 1980-01-11 | 1983-09-20 | Oscilloquartz S.A. | Atomic frequency standard having microwave loop around absorption cell |
| US4596962A (en) * | 1983-11-03 | 1986-06-24 | Duke University | Evacuated, wall-coated, sealed, alkali atom cell for an atomic frequency standard |
| US5256995A (en) * | 1992-07-17 | 1993-10-26 | Ball Corporation | Low helium permeability atomic frequency standard cell and method for forming same |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| DE1295082B (en) | 1969-05-14 |
| GB1036002A (en) | 1966-07-13 |
| FR1318738A (en) | 1963-02-22 |
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