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Optical and Quantum Sensing and Precision Metrology II

Rapid, accurate imaging of magnetic fields with Yb atomic fluorescence

Leo W. Hollberg, Tanaporn Na Narong, Hongquan Li, Joshua Tong, Mario Dueñas

Published Mar 8, 2023• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We describe a fast imaging atomic vector magnetometer based on laser spectroscopy of the Zeeman splitting in the (6s6p) 3P1 state of Yb. In the presence of a magnetic field gradient, we observed prominent dark stripes (visible by eye or camera) in the fluorescence (556 nm) when a thermal Yb atomic beam is driven by square-wave amplitude-modulated light at RF frequencies. The 1S0-3P1 transition forms a “V” system where two laser sidebands interact simultaneously with two 3P1 Zeeman sublevels. The dark lines are contours of constant magnetic field strength, and are consistent with theoretical models dominated by Autler-Townes Splitting. The estimated magnetic field sensitivity is ≈ 10 μG (1 nT) for 100k image pixels recorded in 3 ms.

DOI
10.1117/12.2657718

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Optics and Spectroscopy•Mar 23, 2004•10 citations
We describe a fast imaging atomic vector magnetometer based on laser spectroscopy of the Zeeman splitting in the (6s6p) 3P1 state of Yb. In the presence of a magnetic field gradient, we observed prominent dark stripes (visible by eye or camera) in the fluorescence (556 nm) when a thermal Yb atomic beam is driven by square-wave amplitude-modulated light at RF frequencies. The 1S0-3P1 transition forms a “V” system where two laser sidebands interact simultaneously with two 3P1 Zeeman sublevels. The dark lines are contours of constant magnetic field strength, and are consistent with theoretical models dominated by Autler-Townes Splitting. The estimated magnetic field sensitivity is ≈ 10 μG (1 nT) for 100k image pixels recorded in 3 ms.
An intercombination transition in Yb enables a novel approach for rapidly imaging magnetic field variations with excellent spatial and temporal resolution and accuracy. This quantum imaging magnetometer reveals "dark stripes" that are contours of constant magnetic field visible by eye or capturable by standard cameras. These dark lines result from a combination of Autler-Townes splitting and the spatial Hanle effect in the ^{1}S_{0}-^{3}P_{1} transition of Yb when driven by multiple strong coherent laser fields (carrier and AM/FM modulation sidebands of a single-mode 556 nm laser). We show good agreement between experimental data and our theoretical model for the closed, 4-level Zeeman shifted V system and demonstrate scalar and vector magnetic field measurements at video frame rates over spatial dimensions of 5 cm with 0.1 mm resolution. Additionally, the ^{1}S_{0}-^{3}P_{1} transition allows for ∼μs response time and a large dynamic range (from microtesla to many tesla).
Neutral atoms may be trapped via the interaction of their magnetic dipole moment with magnetic field gradients. One of the possible schemes is the cloverleaf trap. It is often desirable to have at hand a fast and precise technique for measuring the magnetic field distribution. We introduce a novel diagnostic tool for instantaneous imaging the equipotential lines of a magnetic field within a region of space (the vacuum recipient) that is not accessible to massive probes. Our technique is based on spatially resolved observation of the fluorescence emitted by a hot beam of sodium atoms crossing a thin slice of resonant laser light within the magnetic field region to be investigated. The inhomogeneous magnetic field spatially modulates the resonance condition between the Zeeman-shifted hyperfine sublevels and the laser light and therefore the amount of scattered photons. We demonstrate this technique by mapping the field of our cloverleaf trap in three dimensions under various conditions. 1
The energy levels of atoms placed in an external magnetic field undergo frequency shifts and changes in their transition probabilities. It is demonstrated that using fluorescence spectra from a submicron thin vapour cell (STC) with the thickness L = λ/2, it is possible to efficiently study the above mentioned changes (“half-λ Zeeman technique” (HLZT)). The circularly polarized beam of extended-cavity diode laser (λ = 794 nm, laser bandwidth γL < 1 MHz) resonant with 87Rb D1 transition, after passing through Faraday isolator is directed onto the Rb STC with the thickness L = λ/2. The temperature of the STC is 120 °C, corresponding to N ~ 1013 atom/cm3. STC was provided by a special oven with 3 openings: 2 inlets for laser beam passage, and one orthogonal inlet for side fluorescence detection. This geometry allows simultaneous recording of fluorescence and transmission spectra. STC with the oven is placed between two strong permanent ring magnets and by changing the distance between them it is possible to form a strong magnetic field up to 4500 G. In [1], “λ-Zeeman technique” (LZT) is shown to be efficient to study individual transitions between the Zeeman sublevels of hyperfine levels in an external magnetic field up to 2400 G. LZT uses STC with thickness L = λ, where λ is 794 nm (780 nm) for D1 line (D2 line) of Rb. Narrow velocity selective optical pumping/saturation (VSOP) resonances in the transmission spectrum of the STC are split into several components in the magnetic field; their frequency positions and probabilities depend on the B-field. We present comparison of HLZT and LZT in a wide region of magnetic fields up to 4500 G. We present the fluorescence spectrum for L = λ/2 and the transmission spectrum for L = λ. The VSOP resonances in the LZT-curve are narrower meanwhile the advantage of HLZT is that the fluorescence appears on a flat background. Applications such as magnetometer with high spatial resolution and the theoretical model describing well the experiment will be presented.
Magnetic field and its gradient measurements based on coherent population trapping resonances at the D1 line of 87 Rb are performed by means of coupling two ground-state Zeeman sublevels belonging to different hyperfine levels to a common excited state.Two coherent laser fields with frequency difference of 6.8 GHz are used.They are produced by direct current modulation of a diode laser.The resonance splitting and broadening caused by the applied magnetic field is measured by scanning the laser modulation frequency around the ground-state hyperfine frequency.
39 K atoms have the smallest ground state ( 2 S 1 / 2 ) hyperfine splitting of all the most naturally abundant alkali isotopes and, consequently, the smallest characteristic magnetic field value B 0 = A 2 S 1 / 2 / μ B ≈ 170 G , where A 2 S 1 / 2 is the ground state’s magnetic dipole interaction constant. In the hyperfine Paschen–Back regime ( B ≫ B 0 , where B is the magnitude of the external magnetic field applied on the atoms), only eight Zeeman transitions are visible in the absorption spectrum of the D 1 line of 39 K , while the probabilities of the remaining 16 Zeeman transitions tend to zero. In the case of 39 K , this behavior is reached already at relatively low magnetic field B > B 0 . For each circular polarization ( σ − , σ + ), four spectrally resolved atomic transitions having sub-Doppler widths are recorded using a sub-microsized vapor cell of thickness L = 120 − 390 n m . We present a method that allows to measure the magnetic field in the range of 0.1 − 10 k G with micrometer spatial resolution, which is relevant in particular for the determination of magnetic fields with large gradients (up to 3 G/µm). The theoretical model describes well the experimental results.
An extremely thin cell with a wedge gap was developed that makes it possible to form a column of Rb atom vapor with thickness in the range from 100 to 600 nm. It is experimentally shown that the use of this cell, along with commercially available diode lasers, allows one to spectrally resolve individual transitions between the Zeeman sublevels of the hyperfine structure of the 87Rb D 1 line (transitions F g =1, 2→F e =1, 2) in the resonance fluorescence spectrum in the presence of an external magnetic field (B≈200 G). This makes it possible to realize systems consisting of nondegenerate atomic levels. For comparison, it is shown that transitions between the Zeeman sublevels in the fluorescence spectrum obtained with the aid of a conventional cell (1–10 cm long) in an external magnetic field with B∼200 G remain completely masked by the Doppler-broadened profile. The results obtained can be used for the creation of a simple magnetometer based on an extremely thin cell with Rb vapor for the measurement of magnetic fields with a submicron local spatial resolution.