Research of optimal pump light intensity in rubidium atomic magnetometers

Zhichao Ding, Jie Yuan, Zhiguo Wang +2 more

Yongbiao Yang, Yang Li, Zhengyu Su +4 more

Tao Wang, Jiancheng Fang, Hong Zhang +4 more

Hiroyuki Ohnishi, Yosuke Ito, Tetsuo Kobayashi

Kun Xu, Xiuyan Ren, Yujie Xiang +7 more

Rubidium laser optically pumped magnetometers (OPMs) are widely used magnetic sensors based on the Zeeman effect, laser pumping, and magnetic resonance principles. They measure the magnetic field by measuring the magnetic resonance signal passing through a rubidium atomic gas cell. The quality of the magnetic resonance signal is a necessary condition for a magnetometer to achieve high sensitivity. In this research, to obtain the best magnetic resonance signal of rubidium laser OPMs in the Earth’s magnetic field intensity, the experiment system of rubidium laser OPMs is built with a rubidium atomic gas cell as the core component. The linewidth and amplitude ratio (LAR) of magnetic resonance signals is utilized as the optimization objective function. The magnetic resonance signals of the magnetometer experiment system are experimentally measured for different laser frequencies, radio frequency (RF) intensities, laser powers, and atomic gas cell temperatures in a background magnetic field of 50,765 nT. The experimental results indicate that optimizing these parameters can reduce the LAR by one order of magnitude. This shows that the optimal parameter combination can effectively improve the sensitivity of the magnetometer. The sensitivity defined using the noise spectral density measured under optimal experimental parameters is 1.5 pT/Hz1/2@1 Hz. This work will provide key technical support for rubidium laser OPMs’ product development.

Caiping Zheng, Chong Yang, Zhang Qingtao +3 more

In this paper, the resonance signal of the rubidium optical pumping magnetometer was studied. The theory is based on the quantum physics and atomic physics. Through establishing the relation between the magnetic sub-level rate equations and the light intensity, the angular dependence of the resonance signal was discussed. When θ=0° the resonance signal is maximum, when θ=90° the signal strength becomes zero, and the equipment won't work. Through the simulated curves, the relationship between the resonance signal and the relaxation time as well as the density of rubidium vapor has also been done. This research provides a theoretical basis to solve the key technology of posture correction. As the rubidium vapour magnetometer measures the underwater geomagnetic field, it also plays a vital role for improving the accuracy of the instrument.