Miniature quad-channel spin-exchange relaxation-free magnetometer for magnetoencephalography

A miniature quad-channel optically pumped atomic magnetometer(OPM) has been developed based on the spinexchange relaxation-free(SERF) mechanism. With a vapor cell of size 8 mm×8 mm×8 mm, we have incorporated four SERF magnetometer channels, which provides sufficient spatial resolution for magnetoencephalography(MEG). The four channels share the same laser beam for the best cancellation of common mode noise due to laser fluctuations. With gradient measurement, the sensitivities of the four sensors are better than 6 fT/Hz^(1/2), which is also good enough for MEG measurement. The vapor cell is heated to 160℃ by a novel nonmagnetic current-heating structure. Our sensor with high spatial resolution and compact size is particularly suitable for MEG systems.

Transverse relaxation determination based on light polarization modulation for spin-exchange relaxation free atomic magnetometer

A transverse relaxation determination of spin-exchange relaxation free （SERF） magnetometer based on polarization modulation technique is proposed. Compared with the radio-frequency （RF） excitation and light intensity excitation meth- ods used in SERF magnetometer, the light polarization modulation method has a high stability in low-frequency range, which indicates a more accurate transverse relaxation measurement.

Spin dynamics of the potassium magnetometer in spin-exchange relaxation free regime

The laser-pumped potassium spin-exchange relaxation free （SERF） magnetometer is the most sensitive detector of magnetic field and has many important applications. We present the experimental results of our potassium SERF magne- tometer. A pump-probe approach is used to identify the unique spin dynamics of the atomic ensemble in the SERF regime. A single channel sensitivity of 8 f.THz-1/2 is achieved with our SERF magnetometer.

Spin-exchange relaxation of naturally abundant Rb in a K-Rb-21Ne self-compensated atomic comagnetometer

The total effective spin-exchange relaxation of naturally abundant Rb in a K–Rb–21Ne comagnetometer is analyzed,and the results show that the coexistence of 87Rb and 85Rb isotopes in the same volume can lead to a large extra spinexchange broadening compared to pure 87Rb.This broadening mainly comes from the contribution of the equivalent reduction in the Rb spin-exchange rate.On this basis,an approximate relaxation model is proposed and experimentally demonstrated to be more accurate than that from a previous work.This study also provides a method for determining the properties of alkali-metal vapor cells.

Atomic Spin Polarization Controllability Analysis:A Novel Controllability Determination Method for Spin-Exchange Relaxation-Free Co-Magnetometers

This paper investigates the atomic spin polarization controllability of spin-exchange relaxation-free co-magnetometers(SERFCMs).This is the first work in the field of controllability analysis for the atomic spin ensembles systems,whose dynamic behaviors of spin polarization are described by the Bloch equations.Based on the Bloch equations,a state-space model of the atomic spin polarization for SERFCM is first established,which belongs to a particular class of nonlinear systems.For this class of nonlinear systems,a novel determination method for the global state controllability is proposed and proved.Then,this method is implemented in the process of controllability analysis on the atomic spin polarization of an actual SERFCM.Moreover,a theoretically feasible and reasonable solution of the control input is proposed under some physical constraints,with whose limitation of realistic conditions,the controller design can be accomplished more practically and more exactly.Finally,the simulation results demonstrate the feasibility and validation of the proposed controllability determination method.

In-situ measurement of magnetic field gradient in a magnetic shield by a spin-exchange relaxation-free magnetometer

A method of measuring in-situ magnetic field gradient is proposed in this paper. The magnetic shield is widely used in the atomic magnetometer. However, there is magnetic field gradient in the magnetic shield, which would lead to additional gradient broadening. It is impossible to use an ex-situ magnetometer to measure magnetic field gradient in the region of a cell, whose length of side is several centimeters. The method demonstrated in this paper can realize the in-situ measurement of the magnetic field gradient inside the cell, which is significant for the spin relaxation study. The magnetic field gradients along the longitudinal axis of the magnetic shield are measured by a spin-exchange relaxation-free （SERF） magnetometer by adding a magnetic field modulation in the probe beam＇s direction. The transmissivity of the cell for the probe beam is always inhomogeneous along the pump beam direction, and the method proposed in this paper is independent of the intensity of the probe beam, which means that the method is independent of the cell＇s transmissivity. This feature makes the method more practical experimentally. Moreover, the AC-Stark shift can seriously degrade and affect the precision of the magnetic field gradient measurement. The AC-Stark shift is suppressed by locking the pump beam to the resonance of potassium＇s D1 line. Furthermore, the residual magnetic fields are measured with σ＋- and σ--polarized pump beams, which can further suppress the effect of the AC-Stark shift. The method of measuring in-situ magnetic field gradient has achieved a magnetic field gradient precision of better than 30 pT/mm.

Experimental Observation of Spin-Exchange in Ultracold Fermi Gases

We experimentally study the spin exchange collision in ultracold 40K Fermi gases. The quadratic Zeeman shift, trap potential and temperature of atomic cloud will influence on the spin changing dynamics. Dependences of the spin components populations on the external bias magnetic field, the optical trap depth and the temperature of atomic cloud are experimentally investigated. The spin exchange from the initial states to the final state are observed for different initial states. This work shows an interesting process of reaching equilibrium by redistribution among the spin states with the spin exchange collision in an ultracold large-spin Fermi gas.

Performance optimization of a SERF atomic magnetometer based on flat-top light beam

We explore the impact of pumping beams with different transverse intensity profiles on the performance of the spinexchange relaxation-free(SERF) atomic magnetometers(AMs). We conduct experiments comparing the traditional Gaussian optically-pumped AM with that utilizing the flat-top optically-pumped(FTOP) method. Our findings reveal that the FTOP-based approach outperforms the conventional method, exhibiting a larger response, a narrower magnetic resonance linewidth, and a superior low-frequency noise performance. Specifically, the use of FTOP method leads to a 16% enhancement in average sensitivity within 1 Hz–30 Hz frequency range. Our research emphasizes the significance of achieving transverse polarization uniformity in AMs, providing insights for future optimization efforts and sensitivity improvements in miniaturized magnetometers.

Response optimization of a three-axis sensitive SERF magnetometer for closed-loop operation

Most triaxial-vectorial magnetic field measurements with spin-exchange relaxation free(SERF)atomic magnetometer(AM)are based on the quasi-steady-state solution of the Bloch equation.However,the responding speed of these methods is greatly limited because the frequency of the modulation signal should be slow enough to ensure the validity of the quasi-steady-state solution.In this work,a new model to describe the response of the three-axis sensitive SERF AM with high modulation frequency is presented and verified.The response of alkali-atomic spin to high-frequency modulation field is further investigated by solving the Bloch equation in a modulation-frequency-dependence manner.This solution is well verified by our experiments and can offer a reference for selection of modulation frequencies.The result shows a potential to achieve a SERF AM operating in a geomagnetic field without heavy aluminum shielding when the modulation frequencies are selected properly.

Suppression of laser power error in a miniaturized atomic co-magnetometer based on split ratio optimization

A miniaturized atomic spin-exchange relaxation-free(SERF)co-magnetometer measures angular velocity using a balanced polarimetry technique which is easily affected by the laser power.A laser power closed-loop control system is usually used to suppress the fluctuation of the laser power.Although this method can greatly eliminate the fluctuation of the in-loop laser power(the feedback laser),it cannot fully eliminate the fluctuation of the out-of-loop laser power(the signal measurement laser).This leads to SERF gyroscope laser power error,which reduces the inertial measurement accuracy.In this paper,the influence mechanism of the split ratio(the ratio of the in-loop laser power to the out-of-loop laser power)on the out-of-loop laser power control accuracy is analyzed by establishing a laser power transmission model inside and outside the loop.Moreover,a method is developed to improve the out-of-loop laser power stability by optimizing the split ratio.Comparative experiments showed that the relative Allan standard deviation of the out-of-loop laser power decreased from 5.48×10^(-6)to 2.62×10^(-6)at 100 s,and decreased by an order of magnitude from 1.76×10^(-5)to 3.30×10^(-6)at1000 s.Correspondingly,the rate ramp coefficient in the Allan standard deviation curve of the SERF gyroscope test data decreased from 1.312[(°/h)/h]to 0.246[(°/h)/h].And the bias stability increased from 0.032°/h to 0.019°/h.Therefore,the proposed method can improve the long-term stability of the probe laser power and effectively suppress the laser power error of the SERF gyroscope.

Low drift nuclear spin gyroscope with probe light intensity error suppression

A nuclear spin gyroscope based on an alkali-metal–noble-gas co-magnetometer operated in spin-exchange relaxationfree(SERF) regime is a promising atomic rotation sensor for its ultra-high fundamental sensitivity. However, the fluctuation of probe light intensity is one of the main technical error sources that limits the bias stability of the gyroscope. Here we propose a novel method to suppress the bias error induced by probe light intensity fluctuations. This method is based on the inherent magnetic field response characteristics of the gyroscope. By the application of a bias magnetic field, the gyroscope can be tuned to a working point where the output signal is insensitive to probe light intensity variation, referred to herein as ‘zero point’, thus the bias error induced by intensity fluctuations can be completely suppressed. The superiority of the method was verified on a K–Rb–21 Ne co-magnetometer, and a bias stability of approximately 0.01°/h was obtained. In addition, the method proposed here can remove the requirement of the closed-loop control of probe light intensity, thereby facilitating miniaturization of the gyroscope volume and improvement of reliability.

Parameter analysis for a nuclear magnetic resonance gyroscope based on ^(133)Cs–^(129)Xe/^(131)Xe

We theoretically investigate several parameters for the nuclear magnetic resonance gyroscope based on ^（133）C_（s–）^（129）Xe/^（131）Xe. For a cell containing a mixture of ^（133）Cs at saturated pressure, we investigate the optimal quenching gas（N_2） pressure and the corresponding pump laser intensity to achieve 30% ^（133）Cs polarization at the center of the cell when the static magnetic field B0 is 5 μT with different ^（129）Xe/^（131）Xe pressure. The effective field produced by spin-exchange polarized ^（129）Xe or ^（131）Xe sensed by ^（133）Cs can also be discussed in different^（129）Xe/^（131）Xe pressure conditions. Furthermore,the relationship between the detected signal and the probe laser frequency is researched. We obtain the optimum probe laser detuning from the D2（6~2S_（1/2）→ 6~2P_（3/2）） resonance with different ^（129）Xe/^（131）Xe pressure owing to the pressure broadening.

Superexchange-mediated magnetization dynamics with ultracold alkaline-earth atoms in an optical lattice

Superexchange and inter-orbital spin-exchange interactions are key ingredients for understanding（orbital） quantum magnetism in strongly correlated systems and have been realized in ultracold atomic gases.Here we study the spin dynamics of ultracold alkaline-earth atoms in an optical lattice when the two exchange interactions coexist.In the superexchange interaction dominating regime,we find that the time-resolved spin imbalance shows a remarkable modulated oscillation,which can be attributed to the interplay between local and nonlocal quantum mechanical exchange mechanisms.Moreover,the filling of the long-lived excited atoms affects the collapse and revival of the magnetization dynamics.These observations can be realized in state-dependent optical lattices combined with the state-of-the-art advances in optical lattice clock spectroscopy.

Fast In-Situ Triaxial Remanent Magnetic Field Measurement for Single-Beam SERF Atomic Magnetometer Based on Trisection Algorithm

We demonstrate a method for quickly and automatically detecting all three components of a remanent magnetic field around a shielded spin-exchange relaxation-free(SERF)atomic magnetometer(AM)using the trisection algorithm(TSA)for zero-field resonance(ZFR).To satisfy the measurement of AMs,a resonance light of the ^(87)Rb D1 line with a spectral width of less than 1 MHz is converted to circular polarization by a linear polarizer and a quarter-wave plate.After the light beam has passed through the alkali metal vapor cell,the residual magnetic field can be measured by searching for triaxial ZFR optical peaks.The TSA stably reduces the measurement time to 2.41 s on average and improves the measurement accuracy,significantly outpacing existing methods.The weighted averages of all measurements with corresponding uncertainties are(–15.437±0.022)nT,(6.062±0.021)nT,and(–14.158±0.052)nT on the x-,y-,and z-axes,respectively.These improvements could facilitate more extremely weak magnetic studies in real time,such as magnetoencephalography(MEG)and magnetocardiography(MCG)measurements.

INVESTIGATION OF THE RELAXATION OF NUCLEAR SPIN OF ^(129)Xe IN ^(87)Rb ATOMS

The noble gas nuclear polarization samples has the prospects of the application which has attracted much interest. The noble gas nuclear samples with high degree of the polarized densities are used as ideal nuclear polarization samples in nuclear and elementary particle physics, because these samples are inert chemically and because

EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF SPIN POLARIZATION OF HYDROGEN ATOMS

Since the ground state first excited state resonance transition of H atoms lies in the VUV spectra region(λ=121.6 nm), and up to now, by the optical pumping direct orientation of H atoms is a complex and unsolved problem, we used the technique of spinexchange optical pumping to produce spin-polarized H atoms and to study the variations of polarization of H-atoms with temperature.

SYNTHESIS, STRUCTURE AND MAGNETISM OF μ-OXAMIDO BINUCLEAR COPPER(Ⅱ) COMPLEXES

Two new binuclear copper（Ⅱ） complexes, [Cu（oxpn）CuL]（ClO4）2, have been synthesizedand characterized, where oxpn is N,N’ bis（3-aminopropyl）oxamido and L is 1,10-phenan-throline （phen） or 5-nitro-1,10-phenanthroline （NO2-phen）. The crystal structure and vari-able-temperature magnetic susceptibility （4- 300 K） of the Complex （L=phen） have beendetermined. Crystal data: orthorhombic system, space group Pnma, with a = 10.433（1）, b11.458（2）, c = 21.999（2）A, z = 4. Every copper（Ⅱ） ion is in a square pyramidal environment.The two copper（Ⅱ） ions are linked by μ-oxamido bridge and the separation of them is 5.208A. The singlet-triplet energy gap J was found equal to -452.92cm-1, indicating that astrongantiferromagnetic spin-exchange interaction operates between the copper（Ⅱ） ions.

In-situ optical pumping for polarizing 3He neutron spin filters at the China Spallation Neutron Source

In this paper,we present the performance of a recently developed in-situ spin-exchange optically pumped^(3)He-neutron spin filter system at the China Spallation Neutron Source(CSNS).The system achieved a^(3)He polarization of over 74%at the beamline BL-20.Analysis of neutron transmission experiment results reveals a neutron polarization of>90%and an average transmission of 27%for 2.2Åneutrons,which were maintained for a duration of 120 h of beam time.To the best of our knowledge,this is the first in-situ hyperpolarized^(3)He system incorporated on a neutron beamline in China.This technology is expected to provide stable,wide-angle,and highly polarized neutrons at the CSNS for materials research and fundamental neutron physics.

Scattering amplitude and two-body loss of ultracold alkaline-earth atoms in a shaking synthetic magnetic field

The idea of manipulating the interaction between ultracold fermionic alkaline-earth(like)atoms via a laser-induced periodical synthetic magnetic field was proposed in Kanász-Nagy et al(2018 Phys.Rev.B 97,155156).In that work,it was shown that in the presence of the shaking synthetic magnetic field,two atoms in^(1)S_(0)and^(3)P_(0) states experience a periodical interaction in a rotated frame,and the effective inter-atomic interaction was approximated as the time-averaged operator of this time-dependent interaction.This technique is supposed to be efficient for ^(173) Yb atoms which have a large natural scattering length.Here we examine this time-averaging approximation and derive the rate of the two-body loss induced by the shaking of the synthetic magnetic field,by calculating the zero-energy inter-atomic scattering amplitude corresponding to the explicit periodical interaction.We find that for the typical cases with shaking angular frequencyλof the synthetic magnetic field being of the order of(2π)kHz,the time-averaging approximation is applicable only when the shaking amplitude is small enough.Moreover,the two-body loss rate increases with the shaking amplitude,and is of the order of 10^(-10)cm^(3)·s^(-1) or even larger when the time-averaging approximation is not applicable.Our results are helpful for the quantum simulations with ultracold gases of fermionic alkaline-earth(like)atoms.