Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Physical Review A

Precision frequency measurements with polarized He 3 , Ne 21 , and Xe 129 atoms

T. E. Chupp, Eduardo R. Oteiza, Jonathan M. Richardson, T. R. White

Published Oct 1, 1988• 41 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We present the principles, applications, and performance of new techniques developed to measure the frequency spectrum of freely precessing polarized noble-gas atoms. The noble-gas polarization technique of spin exchange with laser optically pumped Rb enables us to simultaneously polarize several species ${(}^{3}$He, $^{21}\mathrm{Ne}$, and $^{129}\mathrm{Xe}$). With signal-to-noise ratios of ${10}^{4}$, the free precession frequencies are determined with a precision of less than ${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}6}$ Hz out of ${10}^{3}$ Hz in 1024 s. The technique will be applied to determine frequency shifts due to dipole couplings to applied fields and quadrupole splittings due to local Lorentz-invariance-violating spatial anisotropy. In all cases, the frequencies of two or more species are measured simultaneously in order to provide magnetometry for increased precision and to provide measurement and cancellation of systematic effects.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.38.3998

Related papers

Continuous comagnetometry using transversely polarized Xe isotopes

Daniel Thrasher, Susan Sorensen, J. Weber +4 more

We demonstrate a transversely polarized spin-exchange pumped noble gas comagnetometer which suppresses systematic errors from longitudinal polarization. Rb atoms as well as $^{131}\mathrm{Xe}$ and $^{129}\mathrm{Xe}$ nuclei are simultaneously polarized perpendicular to a pulsed bias field. Both Xe isotopes' nuclear magnetic resonance conditions are simultaneously satisfied by frequency modulation of the pulse repetition rate. The Rb atoms detect the Xe precession. We highlight the importance of magnetometer phase shifts when performing comagnetometry. For detection of nonmagnetic spin-dependent interactions the sensing bandwidth is 1 Hz, the white-noise level is $7\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{Hz}/\sqrt{\text{Hz}}$, and the bias instability is $\ensuremath{\sim}1$ $\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{Hz}$.

arXiv:1910.02156•Physical Review A•Dec 9, 2019•40 citations

Accurate Polarimetry of Hybrid K-Rb and 21 Ne Atoms Based on Spin-Exchange Interactions

Kai Wei, Tian Zhao, Xiujie Fang +3 more

Hybrid spin-exchange optical pumping is widely used in precision measurements and tests of fundamental physics. In these researches and applications, accurate measurement of the spin polarizations of hybrid alkali atoms and noble gas atoms has a significant role. Here we propose a novel method of measuring the spin polarizations of hybrid K-Rb and21Ne atoms simultaneously. We study the mixture of the slowing-down factors of hybrid alkali atoms due to spin-exchange interactions between hybrid alkali atoms, and the resonance-frequency shift of alkali atoms due to spin-exchange interactions with noble-gas atoms. We investigate the relationship between the hybrid resonance frequency and the polarizations. The spin polarizations of alkali atoms and noble-gas atoms have been measured based on this method, which is from 0.082 to 0.756 and from 0.018 to 0.124 with uncertainties smaller than 10.4 % and 12.7 % respectively. This method is promising for the applications requiring simultaneous and real-time measurement of the polarizations of alkali and noble-gas atoms, such as inertial sensors and tests of fundamental physics.

IEEE Sensors Journal•Dec 2, 2020•32 citations

Synchronous Spin-Exchange Optical Pumping

Anna Korver, Daniel Thrasher, Michael Bulatowicz +1 more

We demonstrate a new approach to precision NMR with hyperpolarized gases designed to mitigate NMR shifts due to the alkali spin-exchange field. The NMR bias field is implemented as a sequence of alkali (Rb) 2π pulses, allowing the Rb polarization to be optically pumped transverse to the bias field. When the Rb polarization is modulated at the noble-gas (Xe) NMR resonance, spin-exchange collisions buildup a precessing transverse Xe polarization. We study and mitigate novel NMR broadening effects due to the oscillating spin-exchange field. Spin-exchange frequency shifts are suppressed 2500×, and Rb magnetometer gain measurements project photon shot-noise limited NMR frequency uncertainties below 10 nHz/sqrt[Hz].

arXiv:1506.08797•Physical Review Letters•Dec 18, 2015•61 citations

He 3 − Xe 129 Comagnetometery using Rb 87 Detection and Decoupling

Mark E. Limes, D. Sheng, M. V. Romalis

We describe a ^{3}He-^{129}Xe comagnetometer using ^{87}Rb atoms for noble-gas spin polarization and detection. We use a train of ^{87}Rb π pulses and σ^{+}/σ^{-} optical pumping to realize a finite-field Rb magnetometer with suppression of spin-exchange relaxation. We suppress frequency shifts from polarized Rb by measuring the ^{3}He and ^{129}Xe spin precession frequencies in the dark, while applying π pulses along two directions to depolarize Rb atoms. The plane of the π pulses is rotated to suppress the Bloch-Siegert shifts for the nuclear spins. We measure the ratio of ^{3}He to ^{129}Xe spin precession frequencies with sufficient absolute accuracy to resolve Earth's rotation without changing the orientation of the comagnetometer. A frequency resolution of 7 nHz is achieved after integration for 8 h without evidence of significant drift.

arXiv:1708.05772•Physical Review Letters•Jan 16, 2018•144 citations

Progress on a 3 He- 129 Xe co-magnetometer MARK LIMES, DONG

Michael V. Romalis

employed a Ramsey scheme with Rb used for intial spin polarization and for detection of only the initial and final phases of the two noble gas species that precess “in-the-dark.” Our current scheme attempts a continuous detection of the noble gas nuclei, which we’ve shown to increase shot-to-shot SNR over the pulsed scheme. Our technique mitigates the large difference of Fermi-contact shifts on the precession frequencies of the noble gases due to polarized Rb by making the average Rb polarization zero with respect to the noble gases. This averaging is accomplished by applying Rb pulses and simultaneously pumping with += light with a fast repetition rate. The 3 He- 129 Xe co-magnetometer has many potential applications for precision measurements, including nuclear spin gyroscopes and searches for spingravity coupling.

•Jan 1, 2015•0 citations

Spin Gyroscope is Ready to Look for New Physics

Derek F. Jackson Kimball

We describe a 3 He- 129 Xe comagnetometer using 87 Rb atoms for noble-gas spin polarization and detection.We use a train of 87 Rb π pulses and σ þ =σ -optical pumping to realize a finite-field Rb magnetometer with suppression of spin-exchange relaxation.We suppress frequency shifts from polarized Rb by measuring the 3 He and 129 Xe spin precession frequencies in the dark, while applying π pulses along two directions to depolarize Rb atoms.The plane of the π pulses is rotated to suppress the Bloch-Siegert shifts for the nuclear spins.We measure the ratio of 3 He to 129 Xe spin precession frequencies with sufficient absolute accuracy to resolve Earth's rotation without changing the orientation of the comagnetometer.A frequency resolution of 7 nHz is achieved after integration for 8 h without evidence of significant drift.

Physics•Jan 16, 2018•1 citation
We present the principles, applications, and performance of new techniques developed to measure the frequency spectrum of freely precessing polarized noble-gas atoms. The noble-gas polarization technique of spin exchange with laser optically pumped Rb enables us to simultaneously polarize several species (3{(}^{3}(3He, 21Ne^{21}\mathrm{Ne}21Ne, and 129Xe^{129}\mathrm{Xe}129Xe). With signal-to-noise ratios of 104{10}^{4}104, the free precession frequencies are determined with a precision of less than 10\ensuremath−6{10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}6}10\ensuremath−6 Hz out of 103{10}^{3}103 Hz in 1024 s. The technique will be applied to determine frequency shifts due to dipole couplings to applied fields and quadrupole splittings due to local Lorentz-invariance-violating spatial anisotropy. In all cases, the frequencies of two or more species are measured simultaneously in order to provide magnetometry for increased precision and to provide measurement and cancellation of systematic effects.
We demonstrate a transversely polarized spin-exchange pumped noble gas comagnetometer which suppresses systematic errors from longitudinal polarization. Rb atoms as well as 131Xe^{131}\mathrm{Xe}131Xe and 129Xe^{129}\mathrm{Xe}129Xe nuclei are simultaneously polarized perpendicular to a pulsed bias field. Both Xe isotopes' nuclear magnetic resonance conditions are simultaneously satisfied by frequency modulation of the pulse repetition rate. The Rb atoms detect the Xe precession. We highlight the importance of magnetometer phase shifts when performing comagnetometry. For detection of nonmagnetic spin-dependent interactions the sensing bandwidth is 1 Hz, the white-noise level is $7\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{Hz}/\sqrt{\text{Hz}}$, and the bias instability is $\ensuremath{\sim}1$ $\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{Hz}$.
Hybrid spin-exchange optical pumping is widely used in precision measurements and tests of fundamental physics. In these researches and applications, accurate measurement of the spin polarizations of hybrid alkali atoms and noble gas atoms has a significant role. Here we propose a novel method of measuring the spin polarizations of hybrid K-Rb and21Ne atoms simultaneously. We study the mixture of the slowing-down factors of hybrid alkali atoms due to spin-exchange interactions between hybrid alkali atoms, and the resonance-frequency shift of alkali atoms due to spin-exchange interactions with noble-gas atoms. We investigate the relationship between the hybrid resonance frequency and the polarizations. The spin polarizations of alkali atoms and noble-gas atoms have been measured based on this method, which is from 0.082 to 0.756 and from 0.018 to 0.124 with uncertainties smaller than 10.4 % and 12.7 % respectively. This method is promising for the applications requiring simultaneous and real-time measurement of the polarizations of alkali and noble-gas atoms, such as inertial sensors and tests of fundamental physics.
We demonstrate a new approach to precision NMR with hyperpolarized gases designed to mitigate NMR shifts due to the alkali spin-exchange field. The NMR bias field is implemented as a sequence of alkali (Rb) 2π pulses, allowing the Rb polarization to be optically pumped transverse to the bias field. When the Rb polarization is modulated at the noble-gas (Xe) NMR resonance, spin-exchange collisions buildup a precessing transverse Xe polarization. We study and mitigate novel NMR broadening effects due to the oscillating spin-exchange field. Spin-exchange frequency shifts are suppressed 2500×, and Rb magnetometer gain measurements project photon shot-noise limited NMR frequency uncertainties below 10 nHz/sqrt[Hz].
We describe a ^{3}He-^{129}Xe comagnetometer using ^{87}Rb atoms for noble-gas spin polarization and detection. We use a train of ^{87}Rb π pulses and σ^{+}/σ^{-} optical pumping to realize a finite-field Rb magnetometer with suppression of spin-exchange relaxation. We suppress frequency shifts from polarized Rb by measuring the ^{3}He and ^{129}Xe spin precession frequencies in the dark, while applying π pulses along two directions to depolarize Rb atoms. The plane of the π pulses is rotated to suppress the Bloch-Siegert shifts for the nuclear spins. We measure the ratio of ^{3}He to ^{129}Xe spin precession frequencies with sufficient absolute accuracy to resolve Earth's rotation without changing the orientation of the comagnetometer. A frequency resolution of 7 nHz is achieved after integration for 8 h without evidence of significant drift.
employed a Ramsey scheme with Rb used for intial spin polarization and for detection of only the initial and final phases of the two noble gas species that precess “in-the-dark.” Our current scheme attempts a continuous detection of the noble gas nuclei, which we’ve shown to increase shot-to-shot SNR over the pulsed scheme. Our technique mitigates the large difference of Fermi-contact shifts on the precession frequencies of the noble gases due to polarized Rb by making the average Rb polarization zero with respect to the noble gases. This averaging is accomplished by applying Rb pulses and simultaneously pumping with += light with a fast repetition rate. The 3 He- 129 Xe co-magnetometer has many potential applications for precision measurements, including nuclear spin gyroscopes and searches for spingravity coupling.
We describe a 3 He- 129 Xe comagnetometer using 87 Rb atoms for noble-gas spin polarization and detection.We use a train of 87 Rb π pulses and σ þ =σ -optical pumping to realize a finite-field Rb magnetometer with suppression of spin-exchange relaxation.We suppress frequency shifts from polarized Rb by measuring the 3 He and 129 Xe spin precession frequencies in the dark, while applying π pulses along two directions to depolarize Rb atoms.The plane of the π pulses is rotated to suppress the Bloch-Siegert shifts for the nuclear spins.We measure the ratio of 3 He to 129 Xe spin precession frequencies with sufficient absolute accuracy to resolve Earth's rotation without changing the orientation of the comagnetometer.A frequency resolution of 7 nHz is achieved after integration for 8 h without evidence of significant drift.