Frequency standards based on hollow core fibres and micro-fabricated opto-electronic components

原子钟和其他频率标准是幕后技术，使许多熟悉的系统成为现代生活标准的基础，如全球定位系统（GPS）和移动的通信。目前，我们依靠大型仪器来提供这些标准。这项提议是关于开发这些仪器的微型版本--理想情况下，封装可以降低到芯片级。芯片级标准将使用已经用于长途通信的光纤的一种版本--新版本将光纤的玻璃中心挖空，用铯原子蒸气等原子气体蒸气或乙炔等分子气体取代。这些被称为空芯光纤，这些光纤中心的气体为新的频率和时钟标准提供了基础。空芯光纤是至关重要的，但它们只是系统的一部分，新的微型元件正在开发中，这将意味着整个标准将是紧凑、可靠、坚固和低功耗的。这些可靠、紧凑和低功耗的芯片级标准不仅将大大改善全球定位系统和移动的通信，而且还将允许新的应用出现。例如，基于这些标准的高灵敏度磁力计可用于对大脑和心脏的电活动进行成像，并将取代目前采用的大型笨重技术-到10年内大脑和心脏成像可用于GP手术的程度。

Atomic clock and other frequency standards are behind-the-scenes technologies that enable many familiar systems fundamental to modern living standards such as the Global Positioning System (GPS) and mobile communications. Presently we depend on large scale instruments to provide these standards. This proposal is about developing miniature versions of these instruments - ideally, the miniaturisation could go down to chip-scale.The chip-scale standards would use a version of the optical fibres already used in long haul communications - the new version has the glass central core of the fibre hollowed out and replaced with atomic gas vapour such caesium atomic vapour or molecular gases such as acetylene. These are called hollow core fibres and the gases at the centre of these fibres provide the basis of the new frequency and clock standards. The hollow core fibres are vital but they are only one part of the system and new mircoscale components are being developed as part of this proposal that will mean that the whole standard will be compact, reliable robust and low powered.These reliable, compact and low powered chip-scale standards will not only greatly improve GPS and mobile communications but will also allow new applications to come into existence. For example, highly sensitive magnetometers based on these standards can be used in imaging the electrical activity of the brain and heart and will replace the large cumbersome technology presently employed -to the point where in 10 years time brain and heart imaging could be available in a GP's surgery.