The institute
FEMTO's news

You are here

A novel approach to filling miniature atomic clock cells

This new method, which gains flexibility, paves the way for large-scale production of atomic sensors.

In recent years, the development of miniature atomic instruments with high sensitivity and accuracy such as clocks or magnetometers is experiencing a real boom. Miniature atomic clocks are intended for example for telecommunications or navigation equipment. These instruments are generally based on the interrogation of a set of alkaline atoms in vapour phase within a cell of millimetre dimensions, generated by micro-fabrication techniques and composed of glass and silicon. One of the difficulties lies in filling these cells with various species (alkaline metals and buffer gases) while preserving the purity and stability of their internal atmosphere over time.

In this context, the work published by FEMTO-ST in Nature Microsystems & Nanoengineering and entitled "Wafer-level vapor cells filled with laser-actuated hermetic seals for integrated atomic devices" proposes a new cell filling technique, inspired by those used for the realization of traditional centimetric glass cells produced by glass blowing, but adapted to microfabrication techniques. This technique is based on micro devices structured in glass and silicon similar to valves that can be operated by laser.

See INSIS/CNRS news

Contact : Nicolas Passilly

  • Kagomé structures for quantum technologies

    Quantum technologies open up promising prospects, but require the development of new materials with remarkable properties.

    Read more
  • Launch of the European SAMI project for energy-free intelligent sensors

    A major scientific and technological collaboration between Silmach and FEMTO-ST in the field of intelligent, autonomous sensors kicks off on January 30.

    Read more
  • RENATECH 2024 PhD AWARD

    Adria Grabulosa is rewarded for his work on 3D printed circuits using an original two-photon optical additive manufacturing technique.

    Read more
  • Elsevier article award at BFAS 2024

    Artificial intelligence applied to the electroerosion machining process : Loïc Guiziou1, Emmanuel Ramasso1, Sébastien Thibaud1 et Sébastien Denneulin2 won second prize for best paper at the 8th International Conference on Belief Functions.

    Read more
  • Tribute to our colleague Sarah Benchabane

    The CNRS and the university community of Bourgogne Franche-Comté are in mourning following the death of Sarah Benchabane, Director of Research at the CNRS and internationally renowned researcher in phononics, affiliated to the FEMTO-ST laboratory.

    Read more
  • Does the i-motif structure of DNA exist in the cell?

    As part of an interdisciplinary project involving FEMTO-ST, a new scientific study is reopening the debate on the very existence of these structures in DNA and their potential therapeutic interest in cell biology for the treatment of certain cancers.

    Read more
  • Pink October: A smart bra project

    Zeina Al Masry talks to France 3 TV about her innovative connected bra project for the early detection of breast cancer.

    Read more
  • Vincent Giordano,winner of the EFTF Award 2024

    This award recognises a career spanning more than 35 years of research into frequency metrology, including the development of sapphire oscillators.

    Read more
  • FEMTO-ST celebrates its 20th anniversary

    Surrounded by its co-supervisors and partners, the FEMTO-ST institute celebrated its 20th anniversary on Wednesday 26 June in Besançon.

    Read more
  • John Dudley appointed senior member of the institut universitaire de France

    A member of FEMTO-ST's Optics Department and professor at the University of Franche-Comté, John Dudley has been appointed to a Fundamental Chair in senior category of the Institut Universitaire de France

    Read more

Pages