Single-State Selection System for Hydrogen Masers

• Published in: IEEE transactions on ultrasonics, ferroelectrics, and frequency control Vol. 34; no. 6; pp. 622 - 628
• Main Authors: Mattison, E.M., Vessot, R.F.C., Wei Shen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Legacy CDMS IEEE 01.11.1987; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Atomic beams; Atomic measurements; Electronic tubes, masers; Electronics; Exact sciences and technology; Hydrogen; Lasers And Masers; Magnetic field measurement; Magnetic separation; Masers; Observatories; Radio frequency; Stability; Stationary state; Hydrogen; Maser
• ISSN: 0885-3010; 1525-8955
• DOI: 10.1109/T-UFFC.1987.26994

The design and operation of a single-state selection system based on the adiabatic fast-passage technique for atomic state inversion is described. The system uses a variable-pitch dc solenoid and orthogonal four-wire RF coil to create the state-changing magnetic fields, and a half-wavelength state selection magnet to remove the inverted state atoms from the hydrogen beam. The system's performance was determined by measuring maser power as a function of line Q. The system removes more than 85 percent of undesired atoms from the beam. The potential effects of improvements in the maser on its frequency stability have been calculated. The use of single-state selection combined with increased RF coupling to the cavity and increased storage bulb collimation offers the possibility of frequency stability in the 10 to the -17th regime over intervals on the order of 60,000 s.