Abstract:
A cold-atom cell is formed by machining a block of silicon to define sites for an atom source chamber, an atom manipulation chamber, and an ion-pump chamber. A polished silicon panel is frit-bonded to an unpolished (due to machining) chamber wall (which would be difficult and costly to polish). The polished panel can then serve as a reflector or a sight for anodic bonding. A solid-phase atom source provides for vapor phase atoms in the source chamber. The source chamber also includes carbon and gold to regulate the atom pressure by sorbing and desorbing thermal atoms. The atom manipulation chamber includes components for magneto-optical trap and an atom chip, e.g., for forming a Bose-Einstein condensate. The ion-pump chamber serves as the site for an ion pump. By integrating the ion pump into the body of the cold-atom cell, a more compact, reliable, and robust cold-atom cell is achieved. In addition to the embodiment just described, several variations and alternatives are presented and within the scope of the claims.
Abstract:
A GAS PUMP OF SIMPLIFIED, STURDY CONSTRUCTION EMPLOYS PALLADIUM MAINTAINED AT AN ELEVATED TEMPERATURE TO PERMIT EFFICIENT EVACUATION OF GAS FROM A REGION OF LOW PRESSURE TO A REGION WHERE PARTIAL PRESSURE OF THE GAS IS SEVERAL ORDERS OF MAGNITUDE HIGHER. THE CYLINDRICAL SHAPE OF THE PUMP PROVIDES INCREASED MECHANICAL STRENGTH AND IMPROVED MAINTENANCE OF DIMENSIONAL CHARACTERISTICS,
RESULTING IN UNIFORM HEATING OF THE PUMP WALLS AND CONSEQUENTIAL HIGH IONIZATION EFFICIENCY. TITANIUM RINGS AT EITHER END OF THE PALLADIUM FURTHER IMPROVE PUMP EFFICIENCY.