Note: A 3D-printed alkali metal dispenser

Norrgard, Eric; Barker, Daniel S.; Fedchak, James A.; Klimov, Nikolai N.; Scherschligt, Julia; Eckel, Stephen

doi:10.1063/1.5023906

Cited by 16 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 23 publications

(35 reference statements)

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“…We recently demonstrated a low-outgassing alkali-metal dispenser made from 3D-printed titanium [45]. The measured outgassing level, 5(2) × 10 −7 Pa l s −1 , would establish the low-pressure limit of the gauge.…”

Section: Details Of the Planned Devicementioning

confidence: 99%

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Challenges to miniaturizing cold atom technology for deployable vacuum metrology

et al. 2018

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Cold atoms are excellent metrological tools; they currently realize SI time and, soon, SI pressure in the ultra-high (UHV) and extreme high vacuum (XHV) regimes. The development of primary, vacuum metrology based on cold atoms currently falls under the purview of national metrology institutes. Under the emerging paradigm of the “quantum-SI”, these technologies become deployable (relatively easy-to-use sensors that integrate with other vacuum chambers), providing a primary realization of the pascal in the UHV and XHV for the end-user. Here, we discuss the challenges that this goal presents. We investigate, for two different modes of operation, the expected corrections to the ideal cold-atom vacuum gauge and estimate the associated uncertainties. Finally, we discuss the appropriate choice of sensor atom, the light Li atom rather than the heavier Rb.

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Section: Details Of the Planned Devicementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Such a pump will reduce the pressure offset to 10 −11 Pa and have an estimated lifetime of 10 8 s, comparable to the lifetime of the dispenser. Further improvements can be made by minimizing the creation of other lithium compounds when loading the lithium into the dispenser [45].…”

Section: Details Of the Planned Devicementioning

confidence: 99%

Challenges to miniaturizing cold atom technology for deployable vacuum metrology

et al. 2018

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“…The portability of atomic sensors imposes SWAP constraints and commercial use also involves cost issues. Strategies to overcome these problems and limitations include 3D printing [123][124][125] to minimize the use of mechanical mounts, robust and compact laser systems [126][127][128][129] to decrease the number of lasers needed in atom interferometers and compact magneto-optical traps 103,117,[126][127][128][129][130][131][132][133] operating with just a single input beam to reduce the space required by optical interfaces. However, a genuine hand-held product will only become available once an integration similar to micromechanical devices is achieved.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Taking atom interferometric quantum sensors from the laboratory to real-world applications

et al. 2019

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Since the first proof-of-principle experiments over 25 years ago, atom interferometry has matured to a versatile tool that can be used in fundamental research in particle physics, general relativity and cosmology. At the same time, atom interferometers are currently moving out of the laboratory to be used as ultraprecise quantum sensors in metrology , geophysics, space, civil engineering, oil and minerals exploration, and navigation. This Perspective discusses the associated scientific and technological challenges and highlights recent advances.

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“…The base vacuum pressure, as measured by a metal-envelope enclosed Bayard-Alpert ionization gauge [37,38], is 4(1) × 10 −8 Pa (Here, and throughout this paper, parenthetical quantities represent standard deviations). An alkali metal dispenser made from 3D-printed titanium [15] was used to deposit lithium on the vacuum chamber's fused silica viewports. Immediately after deposition, the optical depth of each viewport's lithium coating was on the order of 0.1.…”

Section: Apparatusmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Lithium's vapor pressure at room temperature precludes the use of a vapor cell [13]. Lithium dispenser sources must operate at high temperatures to produce appreciable vapor pressure; leading to high outgassing rates and limiting the achievable vacuum pressure [14,15]. An attractive alternative to these conventional vapor sources is light-induced atomic desorption (LIAD) [16,17], where atoms are liberated from a surface using photons.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Light-induced atomic desorption of lithium

et al. 2018

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We demonstrate loading of a Li magneto-optical trap using light-induced atomic desorption. The magnetooptical trap confines up to approximately 4 × 104 7Li atoms with loading rates up to approximately 4 × 103 atoms per second. We study the Li desorption rate as a function of the desorption wavelength and power. The extracted wavelength threshold for desorption of Li from fused silica is approximately 470 nm. In addition to desorption of lithium, we observe light-induced desorption of background gas molecules. The vacuum pressure increase due to the desorbed background molecules is ≲ 50 % and the vacuum pressure decreases back to its base value with characteristic timescales on the order of seconds when we extinguish the desorption light. By examining both the loading and decay curves of the magneto-optical trap, we are able to disentangle the trap decay rates due to background gases and desorbed lithium. Our results show that light-induced atomic desorption can be a viable Li vapor source for compact devices and sensors.

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Note: A 3D-printed alkali metal dispenser

Cited by 16 publications

References 23 publications

Challenges to miniaturizing cold atom technology for deployable vacuum metrology

Challenges to miniaturizing cold atom technology for deployable vacuum metrology

Taking atom interferometric quantum sensors from the laboratory to real-world applications

Light-induced atomic desorption of lithium

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