SBIR/STTR Award attributes
Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) presents an innovation in the vapor cell physics to support miniaturization and increased environmental resistance of warm vapor cells used in a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) gyroscope currently under development by Northrop Grumman. The Synthetic Alkali Vapor for Atomic Gyroscopes Experiments (SAVAGE) replaces the rubidium vapor with PSI’s novel Rubidium Alkali-Metal Mixture (RAMM) to address an existing technical challenge in the NMR gyroscope by enabling high temperature operation as well as miniaturization without loss of signal. This innovation is necessary for adaptation of the NMR gyroscope to Hypervelocity Projectile (HVP) and Precision-Guided Munition (PGM) applications which require reduced form factor gyroscope operation through high dynamic range inertial input and elevated temperature (up to 200°C) associated with projectile launch and flight. Laboratory testing supports performance projections if the requisite size and temperature conditions can be met. Under this effort, innovation in the atomic vapor will occur as one of several technology innovations required to meet these objectives.
