Magnetic resonance with gas-phase atoms

Janne Ahokas, Jarno Järvinen, Sergey Vasiliev

William Weltner

Kiyoshi Ishikawa, Satoshi Morii, Katsunari Enomoto +1 more

We perform optical magnetic-resonance (MR) imaging of Cs atoms that are polarized by the transfer from the polarized Xe or Rb atoms in a glass cell as well as by direct optical pumping. With MR images of Cs by alternate optical pumping and detection the distribution of polarized Xe or Rb of low gas pressure is observed in a weak magnetic field. We also discuss the effect of the spin-relaxation and the spin-exchange collisions between Cs, Xe, and Rb atoms on the spatial resolution of MR images of the diffusing Cs atoms.

Thomas E. Barrett

Ying-Ju Wang, Matthew Eardley, Svenja A. Knappe +3 more

We demonstrate a direct resonant interaction between the mechanical motion of a mesoscopic resonator and the spin degrees of freedom of a sample of neutral atoms in the gas phase. This coupling, mediated by a magnetic particle attached to the tip of the miniature mechanical resonator, excites a coherent precession of the atomic spins about a static magnetic field. The novel coupled atom-resonator system may enable development of low-power, high-performance sensors, and enhance research efforts connected with the manipulation of cold atoms, quantum control, and high-resolution microscopy.

Felix Bloch, Isidor Isaac Rabi