We explore the impact of pumping beams with different transverse intensity profiles on the performance of the spin-exchange relaxation-free (SERF) atomic magnetometers (AMs). We conduct experiments comparing the traditional Gaussian optically-pumped AM with that utilizing the flat-top optically-pumped (FTOP) method. Our findings reveal that the FTOP-based approach outperforms the conventional method, exhibiting a larger response, a narrower magnetic resonance linewidth, and a superior low-frequency noise performance. Specifically, the use of FTOP method leads to a 16% enhancement in average sensitivity within 1 Hz–30 Hz frequency range. Our research emphasizes the significance of achieving transverse polarization uniformity in AMs, providing insights for future optimization efforts and sensitivity improvements in miniaturized magnetometers.
We explore the impact of pumping beams with different transverse intensity profiles on the performance of the spin-exchange relaxation-free (SERF) atomic magnetometers (AMs). We conduct experiments comparing the traditional Gaussian optically-pumped AM with that utilizing the flat-top optically-pumped (FTOP) method. Our findings reveal that the FTOP-based approach outperforms the conventional method, exhibiting a larger response, a narrower magnetic resonance linewidth, and a superior low-frequency noise performance. Specifically, the use of FTOP method leads to a 16% enhancement in average sensitivity within 1 Hz–30 Hz frequency range. Our research emphasizes the significance of achieving transverse polarization uniformity in AMs, providing insights for future optimization efforts and sensitivity improvements in miniaturized magnetometers.
Abstract Atomic spin comagnetometers based on the spin-exchange relaxation-free (SERF) effect offer significant potential for inertial sensing and support the development of long-endurance, high-precision navigation technologies. However, limited nuclear spin polarization constrains the long-term stability of these systems. Here, a flat-top optical pumping configuration is introduced for SERF comagnetometers, expanding the uniform-intensity region of the beam to approximately 62 % , which enhances atomic polarization by around 19 % and improves magnetic noise suppression by 32 % . Experimental results demonstrate notable improvements in both sensitivity and long-term stability, highlighting the effectiveness of flat-top beams in overcoming atomic polarization uniformity limitations and advancing SERF co-magnetometer performance.
The spin-exchange relaxation-free (SERF) atomic magnetometers (AMs) exhibit ultrahigh sensitivity in ultraweak magnetic field measurement, but their narrow bandwidth constrains the scope of their applications. To increase the bandwidth, magnetic field closed-loop control technology has been introduced into AMs with demonstrated efficacy. However, previous research on closed-loop AMs resulted in signal distortion problems, primarily due to imprecise closed-loop models and control parameters selection without theoretical support. This problem is specifically characterized by the unexpected amplification or reduction of signals at certain frequencies, directly leading to the degradation of the frequency performance of the closed-loop AM, making it unsuitable for applications requiring full-bandwidth measurement. In this study, we proposed a performance-enhanced closed-loop SERF AM, maximizing the bandwidth while ensuring consistent performance across the entire bandwidth. An accurate closed-loop system model was first established. Subsequently, an optimal relationship between the control parameters was proposed according to the eigenvalues of the closed-loop system, and the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm was introduced to determine the optimal control parameters. The improved closed-loop system was constructed in a triaxial SERF AM, achieving an average bandwidth of 410 Hz and a sensitivity of 10 fT/Hz1/2in three axes, while ensuring consistent performance across the entire bandwidth. With the proposed method, the optimized control parameters can be obtained only by requiring the frequency response of the open-loop AM, which is convenient and useful for closed-loop AM applications.
Abstract The chip-scale hybrid optical pumping spin-exchange relaxation-free (SERF) atomic magnetometer with a single-beam arrangement has prominent applications in biomagnetic measurements because of its outstanding features, including ultrahigh sensitivity, an enhanced signal-to-noise ratio, homogeneous spin polarization and a much simpler optical configuration than other devices. In this work, a miniaturized single-beam hybrid optical pumping SERF atomic magnetometer based on a microfabricated atomic vapor cell is demonstrated. Although the optically thin Cs atoms are spin-polarized, the dense Rb atoms determine the experimental results. The enhanced signal strength and narrowed resonance linewidth are experimentally proven, which shows the superiority of the proposed magnetometer scheme. By using a differential detection scheme, we effectively suppress optical noise with an approximate five-fold improvement. Moreover, the cell temperature markedly affects the performance of the magnetometer. We systematically investigate the effects of temperature on the magnetometer parameters. The theoretical basis for these effects is explained in detail. The developed miniaturized magnetometer has an optimal magnetic sensitivity of 20 fT/Hz 1/2 . The presented work provides a foundation for the chip-scale integration of ultrahighly sensitive quantum magnetometers that can be used for forward-looking magnetocardiography (MCG) and magnetoencephalography (MEG) applications.
Abstract High-sensitivity triaxial magnetic field measurements are crucial in various scientific and industrial applications, with spin-exchange relaxation-free (SERF) atomic magnetometers (AMs) standing out for their exceptional sensitivity. However, conventional methods for achieving triaxial measurements in SERF magnetometers typically involve multiple modulated magnetic fields, which introduce crosstalk challenges in array-based configurations. We propose a static bias magnetic field assisted optical modulation triaxial AM to address this limitation. In this configuration, the detuned circularly polarized light is utilized to achieve synchronous modulation of the fictitious magnetic field and pumping rate while incorporating a static bias magnetic field to generate a transverse projection component. We develop a comprehensive triaxial response model that fully considers the effects of the longitudinal spin polarization deflection. Building upon this model, we derive the relationship between the transverse spin component and the triaxial magnetic field and introduce parameter optimization methods to obtain optimal parameters, thus enabling triaxial measurements of 12 fT Hz −1/2 , 10 fT Hz −1/2 , and 15 fT Hz −1/2 along the x-, y -, and z -axes. Our approach offers significant advantages over existing methods, particularly in minimizing crosstalk and mitigating spin-exchange relaxation introduced by multiple modulated magnetic fields. Moreover, the effective detection of simulated magnetocardiography signals highlights the practical applicability and reliability of the proposed method in real-world scenarios.
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.
The ultra-sensitivity magnetometer plays an important role in fundamental physics and applications, including magnetoencephalography (MEG) and magnetocardiography (MCG). The spin-exchange relaxation-free (SERF) atomic magnetometer (AM) has great sensitivity but is limited by the relatively complicated dual-beam structure for application, leading to the development of the compact AM based on one single laser beam. Compared with the single-beam optically pumped magnetometer (OPM) detecting the absorption of the circularly polarized beam, the SERF AM based on an elliptically polarized single beam detecting the optical rotation angle of polarization has a better response, lower laser power, and no need for signal modulation or demodulation. Here, we would like to report an elliptically-polarized single-beam SERF AM enhanced by reflecting the probe beam, increasing the light-atom interaction. Moreover, unlike the previous reflecting AM using the beam splitter, we used a D-shape mirror to extract the reflected beam, avoiding power losses of both incident and reflected beam and destruction of polarization. The sensitivity of our device in the reflecting scheme reaches 5 fT/Hz1/2 at 9–60 Hz, satisfying the need to measure the human MEG/MCG or search for the fifth force. Our research paves the way for developing the compact SERF AM for multiple future applications.