Progress towards comparison of quantum and classical vacuum standards

Abstract

We present our progress towards a comparison of NIST's cold atom primary vacuum standard and a dynamic expansion vacuum standard. The cold atom vacuum standard (CAVS) converts the loss rate of atoms from a magnetic trap to a vacuum pressure using ab initio calculations of the quantum atom-molecule collision cross-section. To validate the CAVS, we have constructed a new flowmeter and dynamic expansion system that can produce low-uncertainty pressures in the ultra-high-vacuum range that is required for atom trapping. We discuss the operation and systematics of both the CAVS and flowmeter.

Keywords

• Vacuum metrology
• Laser cooling
• Atom-molecule scattering