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US3792368A
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Method of tuning the oscillation frequency of the resonant cavity of a maser oscillator to the transition frequency of stimulated emission of the active medium of said maser
Assignee: Bpifrance Financement SA
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Filing: 1972-08-01
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Granted: 1974-02-12
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Expires: 1992-08-01
Abstract
Abstract The method consists in periodically modulating the level of oscillation of the maser ; in detecting the phase variation of the maser oscillation with respect to the oscillation of a reference oscillator, namely the variation which takes place only in the event of mismatch of the resonant cavity of the maser and results from the modulation ; and in correcting the mismatch.
Inventors
- 👤 C Audoin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 15:47
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S1/00; H01S1/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of tuniNg the oscillation frequency of the resonant cavity of a maser oscillation to the transition frequency of stimulated emission of the active medium of said maser, said maser including a source of an atomic beam which passes through a state selector and supplies a storage cell in a resonant cavity consisting of the steps of periodically modulating the oscillation level of said maser by modulating the intensity of the atomic beam which supplies said resonant cavity with the active medium, detecting the phase variation of the maser oscillation, which takes place only in the event of mismatch of said cavity and results from said modulation, with respect to the oscillation of a reference oscillator, correcting said mismatch.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of tuniNg the oscillation frequency of the resonant cavity of a maser oscillation to the transition frequency of stimulated emission of the active medium of said maser, said maser including a source of an atomic beam which passes through a state selector and supplies a storage cell in a resonant cavity consisting of the steps of periodically modulating the oscillation level of said maser by modulating the intensity of the atomic beam which supplies said resonant cavity with the active medium, detecting the phase variation of the maser oscillation, which takes place only in the event of mismatch of said cavity and results from said modulation, with respect to the oscillation of a reference oscillator, correcting said mismatch.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
95 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said periodic modulation of the oscillation level is carried out between the state selector and the storage cell of said maser as a result of action produced on the atoms of said beam by two magnetic fields having perpendicular directions, namely a constant field which forms energy sub-levels of said atoms by Zeeman effect, and an alternating field which produces transitions between said Zeeman energy sub-levels and the amplitude of which is periodically variable with a frequency equal to the frequency of said modulation of the oscillation level.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 1, including the steps of controlling an oscillator in phase-dependence on the oscillation of the maser to be tuned to detect said phase variation and comparing the phase variations of said phase-controlled oscillator with said reference oscillator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 5, wherein said reference oscillator and said phase-controlled oscillator in dependence on the maser are quartz oscillators.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
202 words
A device for tuning the oscillation frequency of the resonant cavity of a maser oscillator to the transition frequency of stimulated emission of the active medium of said maser, said maser including a source of an atomic beam which passes through a state selector and then supplies a storage cell in a resonant cavity comprising a two input phasemeter, an oscillator controlled in phase-dependence on the oscillation of the maser and connected to one of the two inputs of said phasemeter, an auxiliary oscillator connected to the other input of said phasemeter and the output signal of said phasemeter being applied to said auxiliary oscillator by means of a first filter to maintain a predetermined mean phase relationship between the oscillations of said phase-controlled oscillator and said auxiliary oscillator, a modulator for periodically modulating the oscillation level of said maser, a demodulator controlled periodically by the signals derived from said modulator and converting the signals derived from said phasemeter into a signal having a polarity and amplitude which represent respectively the direction and magnitude of frequency deviation of said resonant cavity and means receiving said signal from said demodulator through a second filter for modification of the resonant frequency of said cavity.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
202 words
A device for tuning the oscillation frequency of the resonant cavity of a maser oscillator to the transition frequency of stimulated emission of the active medium of said maser, said maser including a source of an atomic beam which passes through a state selector and then supplies a storage cell in a resonant cavity comprising a two input phasemeter, an oscillator controlled in phase-dependence on the oscillation of the maser and connected to one of the two inputs of said phasemeter, an auxiliary oscillator connected to the other input of said phasemeter and the output signal of said phasemeter being applied to said auxiliary oscillator by means of a first filter to maintain a predetermined mean phase relationship between the oscillations of said phase-controlled oscillator and said auxiliary oscillator, a modulator for periodically modulating the oscillation level of said maser, a demodulator controlled periodically by the signals derived from said modulator and converting the signals derived from said phasemeter into a signal having a polarity and amplitude which represent respectively the direction and magnitude of frequency deviation of said resonant cavity and means receiving said signal from said demodulator through a second filter for modification of the resonant frequency of said cavity.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
82 words
A device according to claim 5 wherein said modulator for periodically modulating the oscillation level of the maser to be tuned is connected between the state selector and the storage cell of said maser and consists of means for producing two magnetic fields having perpendicular directions, one of said fields being a constant field and the other of said fields being a field which varies periodically with a frequency equal to that of said modulation of the oscillation level of the maser.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
A device according to claim 6, wherein said means consists of a solenoid in coaxial relation to the atomic beam which emerges from said state selector and passes into said storage cell, said atomic beam being intended to traverse said solenoid, and a permanent magnet having a pole on each side of said atomic beam.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device according to claim 5, wherein said reference oscillator and said controlled oscillator in phase-dependence on said maser are quartz oscillators.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3406353A
Cited
US3435369A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-11 | 1977-08-13 | 1978-02-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-11 | 1981-08-13 | 1982-02-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-11 | 1985-08-13 | 1986-02-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |