Optically pumped atomic resonance apparatus with improved optical pumping means

Claim 1

THE METHOD FOR REDUCING LIGHT SHIFT IN AN OPTICALLY PUMPED GASEOUS ATOMIC RESONANCE APPARATUS COMPRISING THE STEPS OF, ILLUMINATING THE ATOMIC GASEOUS MEDIUM WITH SPECTRAL RESONANCE RADIATION SUBSTANTIALLY AT THE OPTICAL PUMPING FREQUENCY, THE ILLUMINATING OPTICAL RESONANCE RADIATION HAVING A SPECTRAL PROFILE WITH ONE RESONANCE SPECTRAL LINE BEING SLIGHTLY DISPLACED BELOW THE ATOMIC RESONANCE FREQUENCY FOR THE OPTICAL TRANSISTION OF SAID ATOMIC ENSEMBLE FROM A GROUND STATE TO A HIGHER EXCITED STATE, AND THE OTHER SPECTRAL LINE COMPONENT OF SAID SPECTRAL RADIATION HAVING A FREQUENCY SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN THE OPTICAL TRANSITION FREQUENCY OF SAID ATOM FROM THE GROUND STATE TO THE HIGHER EXCITED STATE, AND THE RATIO OF THE INTENSITIES OF THE FIRST AND SECOND SPECTRAL LINES BEING PROPORTIONED SUCH THAT CHANGES IN THE TOTAL INTENSITY OF THE SPECTRAL RADIATION APPLIED TO SAID ENSEMBLE OF ATOMS DOES NOT PRODUCE AN APPRECIABLE SHIFT IN THE R.F. ATOMIC RESONANCE FREQUENCY OF SAID GASEOUS ATOMS.