SBIR/STTR Award attributes
Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) will develop Sealed Complete Vacuum Equipment (SeaCoVE) as a supporting technology for portable atom-based sensors (clocks or inertial systems) based on measurements of a vapor of laser-cooled atoms. The single volume ultra-high vacuum (UHV) system of the SeaCoVE provides the lowest size, weight, and power vacuum solution and will passively maintain favorable conditions for atom trapping over >5 years to enable sensor operation in custom optical geometries compatible with atomic clock, accelerometer, or gyroscope configurations. In Phase I, a single volume UHV system without active pumping or non-evaporable getters will be demonstrated from commercial off-the-shelf components that traps laser-cooled rubidium atoms. In Phase II, custom geometry microfabricated vacuum chambers capable of trapping laser-cooled rubidium will be delivered.
