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

AIP Advances

Experimental setup to fabricate Rb–Xe gas cells for atom spin gyroscopes

Sin Hyuk Yim, Deok Young Lee, Sangkyung Lee, M. M. Kim

Published Jan 1, 2022• 22 citations
Publisher

Abstract

An experimental setup to fabricate atomic vapor cells for atom spin gyroscope application, containing 87Rb, 129Xe, 131Xe, N2, and H2, is described. The setup comprises a high-vacuum chamber, an 87Rb ampule, a glass cell, gas lines, and a turbopump. First, the glass cell is baked for a week at 450 °C to reduce outgassing from the inner walls of the glass cell. Next, rubidium atoms are evaporated into the cubic glass cell. Then, the cubic glass cell is cooled to 2 °C to increase the amount of 87Rb in the cubic glass cell while the vacuum chamber is heated to 100 °C. 6 Torr of 129Xe, 48 Torr of 131Xe, 140 Torr of N2, and 24 Torr of H2 are injected into the cubic glass cell. The sealing method employs pinch-off glass welding. The transverse spin relaxation times of 129Xe and 131Xe at a magnetic field of 6.2 µT applied to the quantization axis are measured to be 8.1 and 16.5 s, respectively, at a cell temperature of 96 °C using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The pressure ratio between 129Xe and 131Xe is determined by comparing the output signals from our atom spin gyroscope. The signal-to-noise ratios are 2500 for 129Xe and 3333 for 131Xe, respectively, and the expected angular random walk of the atom spin gyroscope is 0.062°/h1/2 with a 1-Hz repetition rate.

DOI
10.1063/5.0069211

Related papers

Investigation of spatial spin polarization of 87Rb and 129Xe atomic ensemble pumped by Gaussian beam in a miniature nuclear magnetic resonance gyroscope

Shu Qiang, Fang Ji

The spin polarization of 87Rb and 129Xe atomic ensemble has great impact on the signal intensity of a nuclear magnetic resonance gyroscope. The coupled spin polarization modelling process for 87Rb and 129Xe atoms ensemble is presented in detail. Three dimensional spatial distribution of the spin polarization field is obtained by numerical solution and is in good agreement with the experiment results. Influencing factors including temperature, power and detuned frequency of the pumping laser, average collision times of anti-relaxation coatings and partial pressure of gas composition are investigated. The work presents an indirect method to estimate the average collision times given the Xe polarization with different temperatures. It is found the average collision times of the 129Xe atoms with the inner surface of a bare glass cell of 3×3×3mm3 can reach up to about 2.7×105 times. It is also found that the pumping frequency corresponding to the maximum polarization of the Xe atoms polarized by spin exchange of Rb atoms is not consistent with the D1 line of the 87Rb atom when the temperature of the cell is above a certain temperature, but is detuned at a certain frequency. Quantitative analysis of the effect of anti-relaxation coatings on the spin polarization suggests that the appropriate average number of collisions of the Rb atoms with the inner surface of the cell is about 1500 times.

International Conference on Precision Instruments and Optical Engineering (PIOE)•Feb 27, 2023•1 citation

Nuclear Spin Relaxation and Electric Quadrupole Frequency Shift of 129Xe-131Xe in Cubic Stemless MEMS Atomic Vapor Cells

Mingzhi Yu, Yanbin Wang, Yintao Ma +7 more

High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Research on the electric quadrupole frequency shift mechanism and nuclear spin relaxation of 129 Xe– 131 Xe in alkali metal atomic vapor cells fabricated using microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology remains in its early stages. Therefore, an in-depth investigation in this field is crucial for enhancing the performance of miniaturized atomic gyroscopes and other quantum devices. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the electric quadrupole frequency shift and relaxation of 129 Xe– 131 Xe nuclear spins in a stemless cubic MEMS vapor cell. To elucidate the microscopic characteristics of wall interactions, nuclear spin quadrupole interactions with mixed silicon and glass surfaces in MEMS vapor cells were examined. The influence of the angle between the vapor cell’s geometric axis and the applied magnetic field on the electric quadrupole frequency shift was investigated, leading to the determination of the vapor cell’s asymmetry parameter η and the average twist angle ⟨ θ ⟩ of nuclear spin-wall collisions. Furthermore, the temperature dependence of the electric quadrupole frequency shift in 131 Xe atoms was characterized, enabling the extraction of the desorption activation energy ( E A ) of 131 Xe on the MEMS vapor cell surface. By analyzing the free induction decay (FID) signals of 129 Xe and 131 Xe at varying temperatures, the relationship between their relaxation rates and temperature was established. These findings offer valuable insights for optimizing nuclear spin relaxation times in microatomic gyroscopes.

ACS Omega•Sep 16, 2025•2 citations

Nuclear spin decoherence time in MEMS atomic vapor cells for applications in quantum technologies

Gilles Buchs, Sylvain Karlen, Thomas Overstolz +4 more

We report on the fabrication and characterization of MEMS atomic vapor cells suitable for applications in miniaturized quantum sensors such as atomic gyroscopes. Our MEMS cells are filled with natural abundance Rb alkali atoms and enriched noble Xe atoms and are operated in the regime of spin exchange optical pumping. The transverse relaxation time T2* of the nuclear spin in 129Xe atoms directly defines the angular random walk parameter of an atomic gyroscope. Using a field switch technique, we measure the dephasing time T2* of the 129Xe isotope as a function of temperature. Our results showing a decrease of T2* from about 1 to 0.4 seconds with an increasing temperature in the range from 80 to 150 °C are in good agreement with a simple theoretical model taking into account the most important decoherence mechanisms. We show that the observed decoherence behavior can be mostly explained trough collisions of the Xe atoms with the walls. Further characterization steps in order to gain more insight in the decoherence physics involved in our MEMS cells are discussed.

AIP conference proceedings•Jan 1, 2018•2 citations

Effects of temperature on Rb and 129Xe spin polarization in a nuclear magnetic resonance gyroscope with low pump power

Linlin Chen, Binquan Zhou, Guanqun Lei +4 more

We propose an average Rb polarization model to analyze the influence of temperature on the spin polarization of Rb and 129Xe in a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Gyroscope (NMRG) with low pump power. This model is essentially based on summing the Rb spin polarization along the direction of the pump beam and dividing the result by the cell length. We experimentally study the spin polarization of Rb and 129Xe atoms as a function of the cell temperature at low values of the pump power. The experimental results and the values calculated with the average Rb polarization model are in good agreement for both Rb and 129Xe. The spin polarization of Rb atoms decreases with increasing cell temperature, with a decreasing trend which is rapid at temperatures below 110 °C, and slower at temperatures above 110 °C. The experimental values of the 129Xe polarization, obtained with a pump power of 1 mW, first increase to a maximum P 129Xe−ave = 0.66 % at 118 °C, and then decreases as the temperature increases. Increasing the power of the pump beam shifts the temperature maximum to a higher value. Our model is suitable for the analysis of Rb and 129Xe polarization at high temperature and low pump power, i.e. when the power of the pump beam is completely absorbed within a few millimeters of the front window of the cell. Therefore, the present model can provide theoretical support for the improvement of the Signal-to-Noise-Ratio (SNR) of the NMRG, and to determine its optimal working temperature.

AIP Advances•Nov 1, 2017•35 citations

Fabrication of an Rb–Xe gas cell with optical components attached by optical contact bonding for an atom spin gyroscope

Sang Hyuk Hong, Sin Hyuk Yim, Taek Jeong +2 more

We describe the fabrication of a cubic Rb–Xe gas cell integrated with optical components. Two prism mirrors and a reflection mirror are attached to the Rb–Xe gas cell by optical contact bonding. This concept was studied by using free induction decay measurements of Xe gas with two diode lasers at 795 nm in a magnetic shield. The transverse spin relaxation times of 129 Xe and 131 Xe are 7.0 s and 7.2 s, respectively, with sufficient signal amplitude. Optical contact bonding is shown to be promising to provide the monolithic atomic gas cell with optical components and the compact design of an atom spin gyroscope.

Applied Optics•Apr 18, 2025•3 citations

Atomic vapor cells with Herriott-cavity sealed under vacuum and their applications in atomic magnetometry

XIE ziping, Chuanpeng Hao, Sheng Dong

This paper focuses on standardized fabrications of atomic vapor cells with multipass cells. For this purpose, we build a vacuum system that enables the sealing of the multipass-cavity-assisted cell under vacuum. Alkali atoms are prepared inside a glass holder, and the tip of the holder is broken by controlled collisions under vacuum. Atoms are then transferred to a cell glass body part by heating. Once enough atoms accumulate inside the glass part, buffer and quenching gases are filled into the system, and the glass body part is moved to contact the silicon wafer which is bonded with a Herriott-cavity. Then the cavity part and the glass part are sealed together using the anodic bonding technique. The resulting vapor cells provide enhanced measurement sensitivity and improved device standardization, which allows for seamless replacements of each other in practical applications. The performances of these cells are tested, including a test in a double-resonance alkali-metal atomic magnetometer. A magnetic field sensitivity of 95 fT/Hz1/2 is achieved in a frequency range from 10 to 20 Hz with a multipass cell filled with 400 Torr (1 Torr = 1.33×102 Pa) N2 and natural Rb atoms at 100 ℃. The technology and cells developed in this work are expected to have wide applications in atomic devices, especially in He magnetometers and nuclear-spin atomic co-magnetometers, which have special requirements for cell qualities.

Acta Physica Sinica•Jan 1, 2025•0 citations
An experimental setup to fabricate atomic vapor cells for atom spin gyroscope application, containing 87Rb, 129Xe, 131Xe, N2, and H2, is described. The setup comprises a high-vacuum chamber, an 87Rb ampule, a glass cell, gas lines, and a turbopump. First, the glass cell is baked for a week at 450 °C to reduce outgassing from the inner walls of the glass cell. Next, rubidium atoms are evaporated into the cubic glass cell. Then, the cubic glass cell is cooled to 2 °C to increase the amount of 87Rb in the cubic glass cell while the vacuum chamber is heated to 100 °C. 6 Torr of 129Xe, 48 Torr of 131Xe, 140 Torr of N2, and 24 Torr of H2 are injected into the cubic glass cell. The sealing method employs pinch-off glass welding. The transverse spin relaxation times of 129Xe and 131Xe at a magnetic field of 6.2 µT applied to the quantization axis are measured to be 8.1 and 16.5 s, respectively, at a cell temperature of 96 °C using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The pressure ratio between 129Xe and 131Xe is determined by comparing the output signals from our atom spin gyroscope. The signal-to-noise ratios are 2500 for 129Xe and 3333 for 131Xe, respectively, and the expected angular random walk of the atom spin gyroscope is 0.062°/h1/2 with a 1-Hz repetition rate.
The spin polarization of 87Rb and 129Xe atomic ensemble has great impact on the signal intensity of a nuclear magnetic resonance gyroscope. The coupled spin polarization modelling process for 87Rb and 129Xe atoms ensemble is presented in detail. Three dimensional spatial distribution of the spin polarization field is obtained by numerical solution and is in good agreement with the experiment results. Influencing factors including temperature, power and detuned frequency of the pumping laser, average collision times of anti-relaxation coatings and partial pressure of gas composition are investigated. The work presents an indirect method to estimate the average collision times given the Xe polarization with different temperatures. It is found the average collision times of the 129Xe atoms with the inner surface of a bare glass cell of 3×3×3mm3 can reach up to about 2.7×105 times. It is also found that the pumping frequency corresponding to the maximum polarization of the Xe atoms polarized by spin exchange of Rb atoms is not consistent with the D1 line of the 87Rb atom when the temperature of the cell is above a certain temperature, but is detuned at a certain frequency. Quantitative analysis of the effect of anti-relaxation coatings on the spin polarization suggests that the appropriate average number of collisions of the Rb atoms with the inner surface of the cell is about 1500 times.
High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Research on the electric quadrupole frequency shift mechanism and nuclear spin relaxation of 129 Xe– 131 Xe in alkali metal atomic vapor cells fabricated using microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology remains in its early stages. Therefore, an in-depth investigation in this field is crucial for enhancing the performance of miniaturized atomic gyroscopes and other quantum devices. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the electric quadrupole frequency shift and relaxation of 129 Xe– 131 Xe nuclear spins in a stemless cubic MEMS vapor cell. To elucidate the microscopic characteristics of wall interactions, nuclear spin quadrupole interactions with mixed silicon and glass surfaces in MEMS vapor cells were examined. The influence of the angle between the vapor cell’s geometric axis and the applied magnetic field on the electric quadrupole frequency shift was investigated, leading to the determination of the vapor cell’s asymmetry parameter η and the average twist angle ⟨ θ ⟩ of nuclear spin-wall collisions. Furthermore, the temperature dependence of the electric quadrupole frequency shift in 131 Xe atoms was characterized, enabling the extraction of the desorption activation energy ( E A ) of 131 Xe on the MEMS vapor cell surface. By analyzing the free induction decay (FID) signals of 129 Xe and 131 Xe at varying temperatures, the relationship between their relaxation rates and temperature was established. These findings offer valuable insights for optimizing nuclear spin relaxation times in microatomic gyroscopes.
We report on the fabrication and characterization of MEMS atomic vapor cells suitable for applications in miniaturized quantum sensors such as atomic gyroscopes. Our MEMS cells are filled with natural abundance Rb alkali atoms and enriched noble Xe atoms and are operated in the regime of spin exchange optical pumping. The transverse relaxation time T2* of the nuclear spin in 129Xe atoms directly defines the angular random walk parameter of an atomic gyroscope. Using a field switch technique, we measure the dephasing time T2* of the 129Xe isotope as a function of temperature. Our results showing a decrease of T2* from about 1 to 0.4 seconds with an increasing temperature in the range from 80 to 150 °C are in good agreement with a simple theoretical model taking into account the most important decoherence mechanisms. We show that the observed decoherence behavior can be mostly explained trough collisions of the Xe atoms with the walls. Further characterization steps in order to gain more insight in the decoherence physics involved in our MEMS cells are discussed.
We propose an average Rb polarization model to analyze the influence of temperature on the spin polarization of Rb and 129Xe in a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Gyroscope (NMRG) with low pump power. This model is essentially based on summing the Rb spin polarization along the direction of the pump beam and dividing the result by the cell length. We experimentally study the spin polarization of Rb and 129Xe atoms as a function of the cell temperature at low values of the pump power. The experimental results and the values calculated with the average Rb polarization model are in good agreement for both Rb and 129Xe. The spin polarization of Rb atoms decreases with increasing cell temperature, with a decreasing trend which is rapid at temperatures below 110 °C, and slower at temperatures above 110 °C. The experimental values of the 129Xe polarization, obtained with a pump power of 1 mW, first increase to a maximum P 129Xe−ave = 0.66 % at 118 °C, and then decreases as the temperature increases. Increasing the power of the pump beam shifts the temperature maximum to a higher value. Our model is suitable for the analysis of Rb and 129Xe polarization at high temperature and low pump power, i.e. when the power of the pump beam is completely absorbed within a few millimeters of the front window of the cell. Therefore, the present model can provide theoretical support for the improvement of the Signal-to-Noise-Ratio (SNR) of the NMRG, and to determine its optimal working temperature.
We describe the fabrication of a cubic Rb–Xe gas cell integrated with optical components. Two prism mirrors and a reflection mirror are attached to the Rb–Xe gas cell by optical contact bonding. This concept was studied by using free induction decay measurements of Xe gas with two diode lasers at 795 nm in a magnetic shield. The transverse spin relaxation times of 129 Xe and 131 Xe are 7.0 s and 7.2 s, respectively, with sufficient signal amplitude. Optical contact bonding is shown to be promising to provide the monolithic atomic gas cell with optical components and the compact design of an atom spin gyroscope.
This paper focuses on standardized fabrications of atomic vapor cells with multipass cells. For this purpose, we build a vacuum system that enables the sealing of the multipass-cavity-assisted cell under vacuum. Alkali atoms are prepared inside a glass holder, and the tip of the holder is broken by controlled collisions under vacuum. Atoms are then transferred to a cell glass body part by heating. Once enough atoms accumulate inside the glass part, buffer and quenching gases are filled into the system, and the glass body part is moved to contact the silicon wafer which is bonded with a Herriott-cavity. Then the cavity part and the glass part are sealed together using the anodic bonding technique. The resulting vapor cells provide enhanced measurement sensitivity and improved device standardization, which allows for seamless replacements of each other in practical applications. The performances of these cells are tested, including a test in a double-resonance alkali-metal atomic magnetometer. A magnetic field sensitivity of 95 fT/Hz1/2 is achieved in a frequency range from 10 to 20 Hz with a multipass cell filled with 400 Torr (1 Torr = 1.33×102 Pa) N2 and natural Rb atoms at 100 ℃. The technology and cells developed in this work are expected to have wide applications in atomic devices, especially in He magnetometers and nuclear-spin atomic co-magnetometers, which have special requirements for cell qualities.