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Journal of Physics Conference Series

Zero-field level-crossing resonances in a small low-temperature cesium vapor cell for atomic magnetometry applications

Denis V. Brazhnikov, V. I. Vishnyakov, C. Andreeva, Andrei Goncharov

Published Aug 1, 2022• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Abstract Zero-field level-crossing resonances (LCRs) underlay one of the most robust and simplest techniques in atomic magnetometry. LCR-based miniaturized magnetic field sensors have already found relevant applications in biology and medicine. Such sensors utilize a single circularly polarized light wave to interact with alkali-metal atoms (usually Rb or Cs) and to observe the LCR in a vapor-cell transmission when a transverse magnetic field is scanned around zero value. A high-temperature regime (T ≈ 120 − 160°C) is required to achieve a desirable sensitivity of measurements. It can be a problem for some applications, especially in a multi-channel mode of operation. Here, we consider two spectroscopy techniques that can provide high-contrast and narrow LCRs under a relatively low temperature of the cell (≤60°C). These techniques imply using two light waves: the pump wave to polarize the atoms and the probe one to register the resonance. A cubic glass cell of 5×5×5 mm3 size is used in the experiments. It is filled with cesium vapors and neon as a buffer gas. The results can be used for developing a miniaturized low-power high-sensitivity magnetic field sensor for biomedical applications.

DOI
10.1088/1742-6596/2316/1/012002

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Abstract Zero-field level-crossing resonances (LCRs) underlay one of the most robust and simplest techniques in atomic magnetometry. LCR-based miniaturized magnetic field sensors have already found relevant applications in biology and medicine. Such sensors utilize a single circularly polarized light wave to interact with alkali-metal atoms (usually Rb or Cs) and to observe the LCR in a vapor-cell transmission when a transverse magnetic field is scanned around zero value. A high-temperature regime (T ≈ 120 − 160°C) is required to achieve a desirable sensitivity of measurements. It can be a problem for some applications, especially in a multi-channel mode of operation. Here, we consider two spectroscopy techniques that can provide high-contrast and narrow LCRs under a relatively low temperature of the cell (≤60°C). These techniques imply using two light waves: the pump wave to polarize the atoms and the probe one to register the resonance. A cubic glass cell of 5×5×5 mm3 size is used in the experiments. It is filled with cesium vapors and neon as a buffer gas. The results can be used for developing a miniaturized low-power high-sensitivity magnetic field sensor for biomedical applications.
Level-crossing (LC) resonances in alkali-metal vapors are widely used for atomic magnetometry. One of the most simple and robust techniques involves a single circularly polarized light wave, while a transverse magnetic field (Bx⊥k) is scanned around zero to observe the subnatural-linewidth resonance of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) in the light wave transmission. This technique allows miniaturization of the magnetic field sensor to a great extent, maintaining high sensitivity of measurements. To obtain a high quality factor of the LC resonance and, therefore, high performance of the sensor, either a high temperature (>120 °C) or an extended volume of the vapor cell (V≫1 cm3) is usually required. Here, we propose a slight modification to the commonly used configuration, which can provide high-quality LC resonances in small (≪1 cm3) vapor cells at a relatively low temperature of 60 °C or less. The modification consists in adding the second (pump) counterpropagating light wave with opposite circular polarization (σ+σ− configuration). In our experiments, the waves excite the D1-line ground-state level Fg=4 in cesium atoms in the presence of a buffer gas (Ne, 130 Torr). In the proposed scheme, a subnatural-linewidth electromagnetically induced absorption (EIA) resonance is observed. We compare parameters of the EIA resonance with those obtained in the single-wave scheme to show benefits of using the proposed σ+σ− configuration. The results have good prospects for developing a low-power miniaturized atomic magnetometer with a wide operating range.
Level-crossing (LC) resonances in a buffer-gas-filled cesium vapor cell are studied under counterpropagating pump and probe light waves with opposite circular polarizations. The waves excite the D1_11​-line ground-state level FgF_gFg​= =\,=444, while a transverse magnetic field (Bx{\rm B}_xBx​⊥\perp⊥k{\rm k}k) is scanned around zero to observe the resonance of electromagnetically induced absorption (EIA). It is shown that adding the pump light wave significantly improves the properties of the resonances in comparison with the commonly used scheme with a single light wave. As far as a small vapor cell ($\approx\,0.1cm0.1 cm0.1cm^3)atrelativelylowtemperature() at relatively low temperature ()atrelativelylowtemperature(\approx\,45−6045-6045−60\,^\circ$C) is utilized, the results have good prospects for developing a low-power miniaturized atomic magnetometer.
The ground-state Hanle effect (GSHE) in alkali-metal atomic vapor using a single circularly polarized light wave underlies one of the most reliable and simple techniques of modern atomic magnetometry. This effect causes a narrow (subnatural-width) resonance in the light wave intensity passing through the vapor cell. The GSHE-based sensors typically operate in the so-called spin-exchange relaxation-free (SERF) regime to reduce the resonance linewidth. However, this regime requires a relatively high temperature of vapors (approximately equal to $150{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{\ensuremath{\circ}}\mathrm{C}$), leading to high heat release and power consumption of the sensor head. In addition, without applying special measures, the SERF regime significantly limits the dynamic range of measurements. Here we study a pump-probe scheme involving a single elliptically polarized light wave and a polarimetric detection technique. The wave is in resonance with two adjacent optical transitions in the cesium D1{D}_{1}D1​ line ($\ensuremath{\lambda}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\approx}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}894.5$ nm) due to their overlap in the presence of a buffer gas (130 Torr neon). Using a small ($V\ensuremath{\approx}0.1\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}{\mathrm{cm}}^{3}$) glass vapor cell, we demonstrate the possibility to observe subnatural-width resonances with a high contrast-to-width ratio (up to 45%/mG) in low-temperature ($60{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{\ensuremath{\circ}}\mathrm{C}$) operation due to strong light-induced circular dichroism in the medium. Based on the $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}$ scheme of atomic energy levels, we obtain explicit analytical expressions for the shape of the resonance line. The model reveals a linewidth narrowing effect due to openness of the level scheme. The observed bright features are unusual for magneto-optical atomic spectroscopy as openness is commonly considered to be an undesirable effect that degrades resonance characteristics. Measuring the noise voltage, we estimate the sensitivity of the magnetic-field measurements to be 1.8 pT/Hz\mathrm{pT}/\sqrt{\mathrm{Hz}}pT/Hz​ with a sensitivity of 60 fT/Hz\mathrm{fT}/\sqrt{\mathrm{Hz}}fT/Hz​ in the photon-shot-noise limit. In general, the results contribute to the theory of GSHE resonances and also can be applied to development of a low-temperature high-sensitivity miniaturized magnetic-field sensor with an extended dynamic range.
We investigate the ground-state Hanle effect in alkali-metal vapor irradiating by a resonant elliptically polarized light wave. The magneto-optical resonances are observed as a change in the ellipticity parameter of the light wave polarization when scanning the transverse magnetic field near zero. We use a miniature (≈ \approx\,≈0.1250.1250.125 cm3^33) glass cesium vapor cell heated to a relatively low temperature of ≈ \approx\,≈85∘85^\circ85∘C. Under the current experimental conditions, the sensitivity of magnetic field measurements is limited by a technical noise, reaching 180180180 fT/√\surd√Hz in a 200200200 Hz bandwidth. The ultimate photon-shot-noise-limited sensitivity of the method is estimated to be ≈ \approx\,≈555 fT/√\surd√Hz. The proposed scheme is promising for the development of a zero-field atomic magnetometer with reduced heat dissipation of the sensor head and relaxed requirements for magnetic shielding compared to counterparts operating in the spin-exchange relaxation-free regime. These features are of particular value for biomedical applications.
In this paper, two novel methods for monitoring magneto-optical resonances in miniature (≈ 0.125 cm3) buffer-gas-filled glass cell heated to a relatively low temperature of ≈ 85◦C. In both methods, an elliptically polarized resonant light beam is used, and the resonances are detected in the change of the ellipticity parameter of the beam. The first one concerns the Bell-Bloom method of scalar magnetic field measurements. The second method is a modification of the Hanle technique (zero-field level crossing resonances). The photon-shot-noise limited sensitivity is estimated to be ≈ 10 fT/√Hz. The achieved reduction in the operating temperature of the sensor is extremely important for some medical applications.
SummaryThe ground-state level-crossing resonance, or Hanle resonance, in atomic vapors are widely used for atomic magnetometry. In this paper, we report observations of anomalous level-crossing resonances for Rb vapor in a buffer-gas cell. By optically pumping alkali atoms with a ring-shaped laser beam and detecting the spin polarization in the hole of the pumping light with an off-resonance light, we observe a polarization reversion when scanning the transverse magnetic field around zero. Both experiments and simulations are demonstrated.