NOTICE: Due to a lapse in annual appropriations, most of this website is not being updated. Learn more.
Form submissions will still be accepted but will not receive responses at this time. Sections of this site for programs using non-appropriated funds (such as NVLAP) or those that are excepted from the shutdown (such as CHIPS and NVD) will continue to be updated.
An official website of the United States government
Here’s how you know
Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (
) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Comparison of two multiplexed portable cold atom vacuum standards
Published
Author(s)
Lucas Ehinger, Bishnu Acharya, Daniel Barker, James A. Fedchak, Julia Scherschligt, Eite Tiesinga, Stephen Eckel
Abstract
We compare the vacuum measured by two portable cold atom vacuum standards (pCAVS) based on ultracold $^7$Li atoms. Our pCAVS devices share the same laser system and measure the vacuum concurrently. The two pCAVS together detected a leak with a rate on the order of $10^-6}$ Pa L/s. After fixing the leak, the pCAVS measured a pressure of about 40 nPa with 2.6 % uncertainty. The two pCAVS agree within their uncertainties, even when swapping some of their component parts. Operation of the pCAVS was found to cause some additional outgassing, on the order of $10^-8}$ Pa L/s, which can be mitigated in the future by better thermal management.
Ehinger, L.
, Acharya, B.
, Barker, D.
, Fedchak, J.
, Scherschligt, J.
, Tiesinga, E.
and Eckel, S.
(2022),
Comparison of two multiplexed portable cold atom vacuum standards, AVS Quantum Science, [online], https://doi.org/10.1116/5.0095011, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=934515
(Accessed October 8, 2025)