One example includes an atomic sensor system. The system includes an optical source configured to provide an optical beam and a plurality of sensor cell systems. Each of the sensor cell systems includes sensing media enclosed in a volume therein. The system also includes optics configured to provide the optical beam to each of the sensor cell systems to provide interaction of the optical beam with the vapor in each of the respective sensor cell systems. The optical beam exiting each of the sensor cell systems is a respective detection beam. The system further includes a detection system comprising at least one configured to receive the detection beam from each of the sensor cell systems and to determine a measurable parameter based on an optical characteristic associated with the detection beam from each of the sensor cell systems.

One example embodiment includes an atomic sensor system. The system includes a magnetic field generator configured to generate a magnetic field in a volume. The system also includes a vapor cell arranged within the volume and comprising a polarized alkali metal vapor. The system further includes at least one magnetic field trimming system configured to generate a magnetic field gradient within the vapor cell separate from the magnetic field to provide a substantially uniform collective magnetic field within the vapor cell.

Atom-scale particles, e.g., neutral and charged atoms and molecules, are pre-cooled, e.g., using magneto-optical traps (MOTs), to below 100 μK to yield cold particles. The cold particles are transported to a sensor cell which cools the cold particles to below 1 μK using an optical trap; these particles are stored in a reservoir within an optical trap within the sensor cell so that they are readily available to replenish a sensor population of particles in quantum superposition. A baffle is disposed between the MOTs and the sensor cell to prevent near-resonant light leaking from the MOTs from entering the sensor cell (and exciting the ultra-cold particles in the reservoir). The transporting from the MOTs to the sensor cell is effected by moving optical fringes of optical lattices and guiding the cold particles attached to the fringes along a meandering path through the baffle and into the sensor cell.

Atom-scale particles, e.g., neutral and charged atoms and molecules, are pre-cooled, e.g., using magneto-optical traps (MOTs), to below 100 μK to yield cold particles. The cold particles are transported to a sensor cell which cools the cold particles to below 1 μK using an optical trap; these particles are stored in a reservoir within an optical trap within the sensor cell so that they are readily available to replenish a sensor population of particles in quantum superposition. A baffle is disposed between the MOTs and the sensor cell to prevent near-resonant light leaking from the MOTs from entering the sensor cell (and exciting the ultra-cold particles in the reservoir). The transporting from the MOTs to the sensor cell is effected by moving optical fringes of optical lattices and guiding the cold particles attached to the fringes along a meandering path through the baffle and into the sensor cell.

One example embodiment includes an atomic sensor system. A probe laser generates a probe beam. A first portion of the probe beam is provided through a sensor cell comprising a first alkali vapor to calculate a measurable parameter of the system based on a first detection beam corresponding to the first portion of the probe beam exiting the sensor cell. A second portion of the probe beam can be provided through a stabilization cell that comprises a second vapor. A detection system can be configured to stabilize the frequency of the probe beam in a manner that is on-resonance with respect to an optical transition wavelength of the second alkali vapor and off-resonance with respect to an optical transition wavelength of the first alkali vapor based on a second detection beam corresponding to the second portion of the probe beam exiting the stabilization cell.

One example embodiment includes an atomic sensor system. A probe laser generates a probe beam. A first portion of the probe beam is provided through a sensor cell comprising a first alkali vapor to calculate a measurable parameter of the system based on a first detection beam corresponding to the first portion of the probe beam exiting the sensor cell. A second portion of the probe beam can be provided through a stabilization cell that comprises a second vapor. A detection system can be configured to stabilize the frequency of the probe beam in a manner that is on-resonance with respect to an optical transition wavelength of the second alkali vapor and off-resonance with respect to an optical transition wavelength of the first alkali vapor based on a second detection beam corresponding to the second portion of the probe beam exiting the stabilization cell.

An NMR gyroscope system includes a vapor cell that includes an alkali metal, a first gyromagnetic isotope, and a second gyromagnetic isotope, and a pump laser generates an optical pump beam. A magnetic field generator generates a magnetic field that is substantially aligned with a sensitive axis to cause the first and second gyromagnetic isotopes to counter-precess based on the optical pump beam and the alkali metal. A probe laser provides an optical probe beam through the vapor cell that exits the vapor cell as a detection beam, and a detection system monitors the detection beam and to determine a rotation of the NMR gyroscope system about a sensitive axis based on a modulation of the detection beam in response to precession of the first and second gyromagnetic isotopes and based on a predetermined constant ratio of precession of the first and second gyromagnetic isotopes.

An NMR gyroscope system includes a vapor cell that includes an alkali metal, a first gyromagnetic isotope, and a second gyromagnetic isotope, and a pump laser generates an optical pump beam. A magnetic field generator generates a magnetic field that is substantially aligned with a sensitive axis to cause the first and second gyromagnetic isotopes to counter-precess based on the optical pump beam and the alkali metal. A probe laser provides an optical probe beam through the vapor cell that exits the vapor cell as a detection beam, and a detection system monitors the detection beam and to determine a rotation of the NMR gyroscope system about a sensitive axis based on a modulation of the detection beam in response to precession of the first and second gyromagnetic isotopes and based on a predetermined constant ratio of precession of the first and second gyromagnetic isotopes.

One example includes a sensor system. A cell system includes a pump laser which generates a pump beam to polarize alkali metal vapor enclosed within a sensor cell. A detection system includes a probe laser to generate a probe beam. The detection system can calculate at least one measurable parameter based on characteristics of the probe beam passing through the sensor cell resulting from precession of the polarized alkali metal vapor in response to an applied magnetic field. A pump beam control system pulse-width modulates a frequency of the pump beam to provide a pulse-width modulated (PWM) pump beam, and controls a duty-cycle of the PWM pump beam based on the characteristics of the probe beam passing through the sensor cell in a feedback manner to control polarization uniformity of the alkali metal vapor and to mitigate the effects of AC Stark shift on the at least one measurable parameter.

One embodiment includes an atomic sensor system. The system includes a vapor cell that is sealed to enclose an alkali metal that is spin-polarized by an optical beam. The vapor cell includes a mirror at a distal end. The system also includes an optical system including a photodetector system and a laser that generates the optical beam. The optical beam is provided into a proximal end of the vapor cell and is reflected back to the photodetector system via the mirror as a reflected optical beam to generate at least one intensity signal. The optical system further includes a control system that modulates a wavelength of the optical beam between an on-resonance wavelength and an off-resonance wavelength with respect to the alkali metal. The system also includes a processor that calculates a measurable parameter associated with the atomic sensor system based on the at least one intensity signal.