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Barker DS, Acharya BP, Fedchak JA, Klimov NN, Norrgard EB, Scherschligt J, Tiesinga E, Eckel SP. Precise quantum measurement of vacuum with cold atoms. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2022; 93:121101. [PMID: 36586922 DOI: 10.1063/5.0120500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
We describe the cold-atom vacuum standards (CAVS) under development at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The CAVS measures pressure in the ultra-high and extreme-high vacuum regimes by measuring the loss rate of sub-millikelvin sensor atoms from a magnetic trap. Ab initio quantum scattering calculations of cross sections and rate coefficients relate the density of background gas molecules or atoms to the loss rate of ultra-cold sensor atoms. The resulting measurement of pressure through the ideal gas law is traceable to the second and the kelvin, making it a primary realization of the pascal. At NIST, two versions of the CAVS have been constructed: a laboratory standard used to achieve the lowest possible uncertainties and pressures, and a portable version that is a potential replacement for the Bayard-Alpert ionization gauge. Both types of CAVSs are connected to a combined extreme-high vacuum flowmeter and dynamic expansion system to enable sensing of a known pressure of gas. In the near future, we anticipate being able to compare the laboratory scale CAVS, the portable CAVS, and the flowmeter/dynamic expansion system to validate the operation of the CAVS as both a standard and vacuum gauge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel S Barker
- Sensor Science Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, USA
| | - Bishnu P Acharya
- Sensor Science Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, USA
| | - James A Fedchak
- Sensor Science Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, USA
| | - Nikolai N Klimov
- Sensor Science Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, USA
| | - Eric B Norrgard
- Sensor Science Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, USA
| | - Julia Scherschligt
- Sensor Science Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, USA
| | - Eite Tiesinga
- Quantum Measurement Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, USA
| | - Stephen P Eckel
- Sensor Science Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, USA
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