Additively manufactured ultra-high vacuum chamber for portable quantum technologies

Additive manufacturing is having a dramatic impact on research and industry across multiple sectors, but the production of additively manufactured systems for ultra-high vacuum applications has so far proved elusive widely been considered impossible. We demonstrate first chamber operating at pressure below 10−10 mbar, measured via an ion pump current reading, show that corresponding upper limit total gas output material 3.6 × 10−13 mbar l/(s mm2). The produced from AlSi10Mg by laser powder bed fusion. Detailed surface analysis reveals oxidised, Mg-rich layer forms plays key role in enabling compatibility. Our results not only enable lightweight, compact versions existing systems, also facilitate rapid prototyping unlock hitherto inaccessible options experimental science removing constraints traditional considerations impose component design. This particularly relevant to burgeoning field portable quantum sensors — point we illustrate using create magneto-optical trap cold 85Rb atoms will significantly all application areas high vacuum.