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IEEE Access

A New Method for Reduction of Atomic Magnetometer Noise Based on Multigene Genetic Programming

Wei Quan, Feng Liu, Wenfeng Fan

Published Jan 1, 2019• 3 citations
Publisher

Abstract

An ultra-high precision magnetic field measurement is of great scientific and economic significance. An atomic magnetometer that operates in a spin-exchange relaxation-free (SERF) regime has superior sensitivity and, thus, is of great significance for the ultra-high precision magnetic field measurement. In order to reduce the noise of a SERF atomic magnetometer and further improve its sensitivity, a method for noise reduction based on the multigene genetic programming (MGGP) is presented. Different from the existing methods, in this method, the model of magnetometer noise is established based on the experimental data. Namely, the noise of the SERF atomic magnetometer is first modeled by the MGGP algorithm and then reduced by the obtained model. Besides, in this way, the sensitivity is improved. The experimental results indicate that our MGGP model can adequately reflect the characteristics of the SERF magnetometer noise. Moreover, after applying the proposed method, the sensitivity of the SERF magnetometer is improved about 13 times at 1 Hz, and there is also a significant sensitivity increase at the frequencies less than 10 Hz. Therefore, the proposed method can effectively reduce the noise and improve the sensitivity of the SERF magnetometer in the low-frequency band.

DOI
10.1109/access.2019.2918246

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An ultra-high precision magnetic field measurement is of great scientific and economic significance. An atomic magnetometer that operates in a spin-exchange relaxation-free (SERF) regime has superior sensitivity and, thus, is of great significance for the ultra-high precision magnetic field measurement. In order to reduce the noise of a SERF atomic magnetometer and further improve its sensitivity, a method for noise reduction based on the multigene genetic programming (MGGP) is presented. Different from the existing methods, in this method, the model of magnetometer noise is established based on the experimental data. Namely, the noise of the SERF atomic magnetometer is first modeled by the MGGP algorithm and then reduced by the obtained model. Besides, in this way, the sensitivity is improved. The experimental results indicate that our MGGP model can adequately reflect the characteristics of the SERF magnetometer noise. Moreover, after applying the proposed method, the sensitivity of the SERF magnetometer is improved about 13 times at 1 Hz, and there is also a significant sensitivity increase at the frequencies less than 10 Hz. Therefore, the proposed method can effectively reduce the noise and improve the sensitivity of the SERF magnetometer in the low-frequency band.
Quantum manipulation technology and photoelectric detection technology have jointly facilitated the rapid development of ultra-sensitive atomic spin magnetometers. To improve the output signal and sensitivity of the spin-exchange-relaxation-free (SERF) atomic spin magnetometer, the noises influencing on the output signal and the sensitivity were analyzed, and the corresponding noise suppression methods were presented. The magnetic field noises, including the residual magnetic field noise and the light shift noise, were reduced to approximately zero by employing the magnetic field compensation method and by adjusting the frequency of the pump beam, respectively. With respect to the operation temperature, the simulation results showed that the temperature of the potassium atomic spin magnetometer realizing the spin-exchange relaxation-free regime was 180 °C. Moreover, the fluctuation noises of the frequency and the power were suppressed by using the frequency and the power stable systems. The experimental power stability results showed that the light intensity stability was enhanced 10%. Contrast experiments on the sensitivity were carried out to demonstrate the validity of the suppression methods. Finally, a sensitivity of 13 fT/Hz(1/2) was successfully achieved by suppressing noises and optimizing parameters.
Miniaturized high-sensitivity atomic magnetometers play a crucial role in biomagnetic measurements. The utilization of multipass cells enhances the sensitivity of atomic magnetometers. This study explores the benefits of employing a multipass cell in spin-exchange relaxation-free (SERF) atomic magnetometers through theoretical and experimental analysis. A signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) model was established by accounting for the optimal detuning frequency of the probe light and low-frequency 1/f noise. This enabled the optimal number of probe light passes through the vapor cell to be determined. Additionally, compact and symmetric reflective optical paths were designed to mitigate polarization gradients in atomic magnetometers with high atomic number density. Experimental results confirmed that the magnetic field sensitivity of the triple-pass configuration (1.8 fT/Hz1/2^{1/2}1/2) was 1.89 times that of the single-pass configuration (3.4 fT/Hz1/2^{1/2}1/2), consistent with the theoretical analysis. This study provides valuable theoretical guidance for analyzing the SNR performance of SERF atomic magnetometers and demonstrates the potential of multipass cells in enhancing their magnetic field sensitivity. The utilization of multipass cells presents a viable approach toward the realization of highly sensitive and portable miniaturized SERF atomic magnetometers.
The spin-exchange relaxation-free (SERF) atomic magnetometer (AM) has vital importance in advanced research and has been widely applied in different fields. To improve the sensitivity and robustness of SERF magnetometers, understanding the relaxation mechanism is a significant approach. By controlling the amplitude and direction of external magnetic fields, and switching statuses of the pump and probe laser beam, we measured both the transverse and longitudinal relaxation rate in two experimental methods, respectively, and obtained the Larmor precession frequency, the spin-exchange relaxation rate, the spin-destruction relaxation rate, and the relaxation rate due to collisions between atoms and vapor cell walls. All experimental results are verified with the theoretical calculations. The final longitudinal relaxation rate of our magnetometer is 53 Hz. Furthermore, we measured the sensitivity of our SERF magnetometer reaching 5 fT/Hz1/2 from 5 to 70 Hz after differential measurement with the 3-dB bandwidth of 70 Hz. Our work helps to improve the detection capability of SERF magnetometers, providing performance assurance for searching for exotic spin-dependent interactions and applications, including magnetoencephalograms and magnetocardiograms.
In the spin-exchange relaxation-free (SERF) magnetometer, the probe noise is a consequential factor affecting the gradiometric measurement sensitivities. In this paper, we proposed a new characteristics model of the probe noise based on noise separation. Different from noise analysis on single noise source, we considered most of the noise sources influencing the probe system and realized noise sources level measurement experimentally. The results demonstrate that the major noise type changes with the signal frequency. Below 10 Hz, the probe noise mainly comes from the sources independent of light intensity such as the vibration, which accounts for more than 50%; while at 30 Hz, the photon shot noise and the magnetic noise are the main origins, with proportion about 43% and 32%, respectively. Moreover, the results indicate that the optimal probe light intensity with highest sensitivity appears when the response of the magnetic noise is equal to the sum of the electronic noise and half of the shot noise. The optimal intensity gets larger with higher signal frequency. The noise characteristics model could be applied in modulating or differential optical systems and helps sensitivity improvement in SERF magnetometer.
Multi-passed probe light can enhance the signal of atomic magnetometers by increasing the effective optical path length between the alkali metal atomic ensemble and the probe light, thereby strengthening the sensitivity. In recent years, multi-passed probe light has become an important method for improving the response signal and sensitivity of atomic magnetometers. To achieve biaxial magnetic field measurement while maintaining high sensitivity, a biaxial measurement spin-exchange relaxation-free (SERF) atomic magnetometer with a multi-passed probe light is proposed in this paper. The theoretical model and experimental advantages of using multi-passed probe light in longitudinal magnetic field modulation (Z-mode) SERF atomic magnetometers are analyzed. In this paper, a new model of output response of the Z-mode SERF atomic magnetometer based on multi-passed probe light is established, a compact reflective optical path is designed to increase the optical path between the probe light and the polarized alkali metal atomic ensemble, enhance the signal response, and achieve the suppression of low-frequency 1/f noise through longitudinal magnetic field modulation. Experimental results confirmed that the magnetic field sensitivity in the x- and y-axis of the multi-passed probe light configuration improved by 29% and 18%, respectively, compared to the single-pass configuration.
The atomic comagnetometers (ACMs) based on the spin-exchange relaxation-free (SERF) regime exhibit extremely high sensitivity in angular velocity measurements, positioning them as leading candidates for next-generation precision inertial sensing. However, magnetic noise remains a significant factor that contributes significantly to long-term bias drift. Here, a comprehensive model in full-frequency band of the angular velocity measurement error induced by magnetic noise in ACMs is established. Based on the proposed model, what we believe to be a new method is proposed to reduce magnetic noise error by suppressing the magnetic field response in the mid-frequency range. After optimizing the temperature of the vapor cell to minimize the magnetic field response in the mid-frequency range, the angular velocity measurement error caused by magnetic noise was reduced by 20.4%, and the bias drift was improved by 34.8%. The theories and methods proposed in this study innovatively highlight the critical role of mid-frequency magnetic field responses in suppressing magnetic noise errors, and provide important guidance for improving bias drift in SERF ACMs.