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.

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.

A conduit is placed between a vacuum system and the open air or other gaseous environment. A laser or other excitation source is used to ionize the air on the air-side of the conduit. An axial applied electric field is used to repel positive ions from traversing the tube and reaching the region of the vacuum. Electrons are collected in the vacuum region and disposed of using a Faraday cup. The repelled ions assist in creating a counter pressure to sweep neutral atoms out of the tube and back into the ambient air. As a result, a hollow tube can connect an evacuated volume to the open air without compromising the vacuum. This is a windowless window. An array of such tubes can be assembled together to increase the area of the aperture.

An ion pump includes an anode, a backing surface having at least one surface structure extending toward the anode and a cathode positioned between the anode and the backing surface and having an opening such that the at least one surface structure is aligned with the opening.

An ion pump includes an anode, a backing surface having at least one surface structure extending toward the anode and a cathode positioned between the anode and the backing surface and having an opening such that the at least one surface structure is aligned with the opening.

A miniature, low cost mass spectrometer capable of unit resolution over a mass range of 10 to 50 AMU. The mass spectrometer incorporates several features that enhance the performance of the design over comparable instruments. An efficient ion source enables relatively low power consumption without sacrificing measurement resolution. Variable geometry mechanical filters allow for variable resolution. An onboard ion pump removes the need for an external pumping source. A magnet and magnetic yoke produce magnetic field regions with different flux densities to run the ion pump and a magnetic sector mass analyzer. An onboard digital controller and power conversion circuit inside the vacuum chamber allows a large degree of flexibility over the operation of the mass spectrometer while eliminating the need for high-voltage electrical feedthroughs. The miniature mass spectrometer senses fractions of a percentage of inlet gas and returns mass spectra data to a computer.

Getter pumping system particularly useful for linear accelerators or more generally high-volume environments, wherein a plurality of getter cartridges (100, 100, 100, . . . 100.sup.n) having a linear support (110, 110, 110, . . . 110.sup.n) and a plurality of linear heaters (120, 120, . . . 120.sup.n) are connected in a high-density configuration to a wall (11) that has a surface area of at least 0.5 m.sup.2.

Getter pumping system particularly useful for linear accelerators or more generally high-volume environments, wherein a plurality of getter cartridges (100, 100, 100, . . . 100.sup.n) having a linear support (110, 110, 110, . . . 110.sup.n) and a plurality of linear heaters (120, 120, . . . 120.sup.n) are connected in a high-density configuration to a wall (11) that has a surface area of at least 0.5 m.sup.2.

Described herein is an ion pump system implementing an electronic ratchet mechanism produced by modulating a spatially varying electric potential distribution that can result in a net ionic current and voltage. The ion pumping membrane system includes an ion-permeable layer integrated with ion-selective membranes. The electric potential distribution within the ion-permeable layer is modulated through external stimuli. When immersed in solution, ions within the ion-permeable layer experience a time varying, spatially asymmetric electric field distribution resulting in ratchet-driven direction pumping, which can be used in applications such as desalination.

Described herein is an ion pump system implementing an electronic ratchet mechanism produced by modulating a spatially varying electric potential distribution that can result in a net ionic current and voltage. The ion pumping membrane system includes an ion-permeable layer integrated with ion-selective membranes. The electric potential distribution within the ion-permeable layer is modulated through external stimuli. When immersed in solution, ions within the ion-permeable layer experience a time varying, spatially asymmetric electric field distribution resulting in ratchet-driven direction pumping, which can be used in applications such as desalination.