There is a common sense view for atomic magnetometers that their spin-projection-noises (SPNs) are inversely proportional to , where T 2 is the transverse relaxation time. We analyze the current atomic magnetometer types and give a counter-example of this common sense, which is the all-optical spin precession modulated three-axis atomic magnetometer proposed by our group in 2015. Unlike the other atomic magnetometers, the SPN of this kind of atomic magnetometers is proportional to due to the fact that the scale factor between P x and B can be unrelated to the transverse relaxation time T 2 . We demonstrate this irrelevance experimentally and analyze the SPN theoretically. Using short-pulse ultra-high power laser to fully polarize the atoms, the phenomenon that SPN decreases with T 2 may also be demonstrated experimentally and a new tool for researching SPN in atomic magnetometers may be realized .
An Atomic Magnetometer with Spin-Projection Noise Proportional to T2
There is a common sense view for atomic magnetometers that their spin-projection-noises (SPNs) are inversely proportional to , where T 2 is the transverse relaxation time. We analyze the current atomic magnetometer types and give a counter-example of this common sense, which is the all-optical spin precession modulated three-axis atomic magnetometer proposed by our group in 2015. Unlike the other atomic magnetometers, the SPN of this kind of atomic magnetometers is proportional to due to the fact that the scale factor between P x and B can be unrelated to the transverse relaxation time T 2 . We demonstrate this irrelevance experimentally and analyze the SPN theoretically. Using short-pulse ultra-high power laser to fully polarize the atoms, the phenomenon that SPN decreases with T 2 may also be demonstrated experimentally and a new tool for researching SPN in atomic magnetometers may be realized .
Present protocols for obtaining the ultimate magnetic sensitivity of optically pumped magnetometers (OPMs) utilizing alkali-metal ensembles rely on uncorrelated atoms in stretched states. A new approach for calculating the spin projection noise (SPN)-limited signal to noise ratio (SNR) and the magnetic sensitivity of OPMs is proposed. Our model is based solely on the mean-field density matrix dynamics and in contrast to previous models, it applies to both low and high field regimes, it takes into account the degree of spin polarization, the intra- and interhyperfine correlations, the decoherence processes, the atom-light coupling and the effects of the spin dynamics on the spin-noise spectra. Fine tuning of the probe frequency allow us to explore different hyperfine states and ground-state correlations. Especially in the spin-exchange-relaxation-free (SERF) regime, alongside the magnetic resonance narrowing and the increased number density, hallmarks of SERF magnetometers, we report on a new SERF feature; the reduction of spin-projection noise at the spin precession frequency as a consequence of strongly-correlated hyperfine spins that attenuate and redistribute SPN when properly probed.
This paper presents a spin modulated atomic magnetometer, different from other kinds of atomic magnetometers, the conversion coefficient between the polarization signal and the magnetic field to be measured is independent of the transverse relaxation time, which means that the higher sensitivity can be achieved when polarization is kept constant. For better understanding, the magnetic noise of spin modulated magnetometer is demonstrated and compared to SERF magnetometer. The magnetic noise measurement experiment is designed, the experimental results are consistent with the theoretical prediction. This paper validate the unique property of spin modulated magnetometer and this property will play an important role in guiding the optimization of future experiments.
ABSTRACT We propose a method for simultaneously measuring photon shot noise (PSN), spin projection noise (SPN), and technical noise in an atomic magnetometer using a spatial light modulator. A digital micromirror device (DMD) is placed behind the cell to modulate the area of the probe beam, thereby enabling the detected optical power and the number of polarized atoms to be varied while keeping the light intensity inside the cell constant—thus avoiding additional perturbations. Based on this experimental approach, we adapt the conventional models and fit the total equivalent magnetic‐field noise power spectral density as a function of the modulation area to obtain the key model parameters. Using the effective transverse relaxation time T 2 extracted from the free‐induction‐decay (FID) signal, the three noise components are then separated. The method is validated on a Bell‐Bloom magnetometer operated with a bias magnetic field of 2–3 µT. The results show that our model can simultaneously measure PSN, SPN, and technical noise with high accuracy, and outperforms conventional methods in terms of fitting robustness and goodness of fit. This work provides a practical approach for quantum‐noise diagnostics in operating atomic magnetometers without requiring ideal conditions such as weak perturbations or low technical noise.
We consider the limitations due to noise (e.g., quantum projection noise and photon shot-noise) on the sensitivity of an idealized atomic magnetometer that utilizes spin squeezing induced by a continuous quantum nondemolition measurement. Such a magnetometer measures spin precession of N atomic spins by detecting optical rotation of far-detuned light. We show that for very short measurement times, the optimal sensitivity scales as ${N}^{\ensuremath{-}3/4}$; if strongly squeezed probe light is used, the Heisenberg limit of ${N}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ scaling can be achieved. However, if the measurement time exceeds ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{\mathrm{r}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{l}}/{N}^{1/2}$ in the former case, or ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{\mathrm{r}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{l}}/N$ in the latter, where ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{\mathrm{r}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{l}}$ is the spin relaxation time, the scaling becomes ${N}^{\ensuremath{-}1/2}$, as for a standard shot-noise-limited magnetometer.
We consider the limitations due to noise (e.g., quantum projection noise and photon shot-noise) on the sensitivity of an idealized atomic magnetometer that utilizes spin squeezing induced by a continuous quantum nondemolition measurement. Such a magnetometer measures spin precession of N atomic spins by detecting optical rotation of far-detuned light. We show that for very short measurement times, the optimal sensitivity scales as N-3/4; if strongly squeezed probe light is used, the Heisenberg limit of N-1 scaling can be achieved. However, if the measurement time exceeds tau(rel)/N-1/2 in the former case, or tau(rel)/N in the latter, where tau(rel) is the spin relaxation time, the scaling becomes N-1/2, as for a standard shot-noise-limited magnetometer.
Optically pumped radio frequency (RF) atomic magnetometers have been shown to have an improved sensitivity over standard tuned coils for frequencies less than 50 MHz, making these RF magnetometers attractive for the detection of nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) and low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signals. In an atomic magnetometer a linearly polarized probe beam measures, through Faraday rotation, the transverse atomic magnetization induced by the resonant RF signal. The resonance, or Larmor, frequency of the magnetometer is easily tuned with a small magnetic field. We construct an atomic magnetometer based on a potassium vapor cell with a measured sensitivity of 0.22 ± 0.02 fT/ √ Hz and a detection bandwidth of 334 ± 11 Hz when tuned to 423 kHz, giving a Q of over 1200. While high Q magnetometers are sensitive to weak magnetic fields, they are also sensitive to magnetic transients, such as those associated with the excitation pulses needed for magnetic resonance. The ringing created by such transients can obscure the signal of interest. This is particularly detrimental for magnetic resonance signals that decay faster than the transverse relaxation rate. We demonstrate that by feeding back part of the optical signal to orthogonal electromagnetic coils, this unwanted ringing can be quickly damped out leaving the magnetometer ready for the detection of the signal. This negative feedback as applied to the K spins is called spin-damping and can be used to relax the K atoms faster by more than two orders of magnitude. Using spin-damping we reduce the dead-time before data acquisition from 0.8 to 0.2 ms in the detection of NQR signals from ammonium nitrate, one of the so-called fertilizer bomb explosives with an NQR frequency of 423 kHz. Furthermore, we discover that spin-damping can not only be used to suppress signals, it can also be used to suppress noise. We show that it can be used to suppress both environmental noise and more fundamental quantum noise, such as photon shot and spin projection noise. The latter suppression opens the door for its use in quantum control to initialize spin systems before measurements. For phase-sensitive detection, as is often used in magnetic resonance, spin-damping suppresses signal and noise in such a way as to increase the sensitivity bandwidth of the magnetometer. We prove, both theoretically and experimentally, that it is possible to increase the magnetometer detection bandwidth by a factor of 3 or more without significant loss in sensitivity. Such gains in bandwidth for a high Q magnetometer translate into savings in detection time, particularly for substance detection where the frequency of the signal of interest may not be completely known.