Quantum interference device, atomic oscillator and magnetic sensor

摘要

A quantum interference device causing electromagnetically induced transparency in an alkali metal atom includes: a light source generating first and second resonant lights with frequency differences Δω; a magnetic field generator applying a magnetic field to the atom; a light detector detecting intensities of the first and second resonant lights passing through the atom; and a controller causing a frequency difference between specified first and second resonant lights to equal a frequency difference corresponding to an energy difference between two ground levels of the atom based on the detected light. The controller causes the frequency Δω or magnetic field intensity to satisfy 2×δ×n=Δω or Δω×n=2×δ. The frequency δ corresponds to an energy difference between two Zeeman split levels differentiated by one magnetic quantum number and generated in the two ground levels of the atom by energy splitting.

主权项

1. A quantum interference device comprising:
an alkali metal atom that has a plurality of Λ-type 3-level system energy levels; and a light source that emits a plurality of pairs of resonant light to the alkali metal atom, wherein each of the plurality of Λ-type 3-level system energy levels having a pair of ground levels and an excited level, and each of the pair of ground levels and each of the excited level among the plurality of Λ-type 3-level system energy levels being respectively different from each other, each of the plurality of pairs of resonant light having a frequency difference, the frequency difference being different from each other among the plurality of pairs of resonant light in accordance with each of the plurality of Λ-type 3-level system energy levels, and wherein an electromagnetically induced transparency phenomenon occurs in the alkali metal atom by each of the plurality of pairs of resonant light in accordance with each of the plurality of Λ-type 3-level system energy levels.