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

Science China Physics Mechanics and Astronomy

Magnetic and optical control in thermal atomic spin ensembles: Principles and applications

Shimiao Fan, Hongyu Pei, Wei Quan, Yifan Jia, Jiaxin Liu, Wenfeng Fan

Published Jul 21, 2025• 10 citations
Publisher
DOI
10.1007/s11433-025-2718-0

Related papers

Weak Optical Measurements and Control of Atomic Spin Ensembles

Poul Jessen

Bulletin of the American Physical Society•May 20, 2005•0 citations

Approaches to enhance temperature uniformity in alkali vapor cells for thermal atomic ensemble spin sensors

Yefan Zhu, Jie Sun, Kun Huang +1 more

Temperature is one of the key factors influencing the performance of thermal atomic ensemble spin sensors, including aspects such as temperature gradients, temperature uniformity, and temperature stability. Fluctuations in the temperature of the alkali vapor cell can have complex and detrimental effects on the output signals of thermal atomic ensemble spin sensors, leading to a reduction in detection sensitivity. Therefore, it is essential to maintain temperature uniformity within the vapor cell and mitigate the adverse impacts of temperature gradients. This paper discusses the impact of temperature on thermal atomic ensemble spin sensors and elaborates on the role of temperature uniformity in quantum precision measurement. It reviews both active and passive devices aimed at improving temperature uniformity and provides an initial discussion on the potential application of thermal metamaterials for thermal atomic ensemble-based quantum precision measurement sensors. Finally, by synthesizing current challenges and future prospects, it is suggested that the design principles of thermal cloaks could serve as one potential passive approach to achieving temperature uniformity for thermal atomic ensemble-based quantum precision measurement applications.

Review of Scientific Instruments•Jul 1, 2026•0 citations

Optical investigations in quantum spin systems

G. Caimi

•Jan 1, 2005•0 citations

Measurements of spin properties of atomic systems in and out of equilibrium via noise spectroscopy

Maheswar Swar, Dibyendu Roy, D Dhanalakshmi +3 more

We explore the applications of spin noise spectroscopy (SNS) for detection of the spin properties of atomic ensembles in and out of equilibrium. In SNS, a linearly polarized far-detuned probe beam on passing through an ensemble of atomic spins acquires the information of the spin correlations of the system which is extracted using its time-resolved Faraday-rotation noise. We measure various atomic, magnetic and sub-atomic properties as well as perform precision magnetometry using SNS in rubidium atomic vapor in thermal equilibrium. Thereafter, we manipulate the relative spin populations between different ground state hyperfine levels of rubidium by controlled optical pumping which drives the system out of equilibrium. We then apply SNS to probe such spin imbalance non-perturbatively. We further use this driven atomic vapor to demonstrate that SNS can have better resolution than typical absorption spectroscopy in detecting spectral lines in the presence of various spectral broadening mechanisms.

arXiv:1809.02321•Optics Express•Nov 21, 2018•22 citations

Controlling Magneto-Optical Rotation via Atomic Coherences

Anil K. Patnaik, G. S. Agarwal

arXiv:quant-ph/9911034•Springer eBooks•Jan 1, 2000•3 citations

Probing Dynamics of a Two-Dimensional Dipolar Spin Ensemble Using Single Qubit Sensor

Kristine Rezai, Soonwon Choi, Mikhail D. Lukin +1 more

Understanding the thermalization dynamics of quantum many-body systems at the microscopic level is among the central challenges of modern statistical physics. Here we experimentally investigate individual spin dynamics in a two-dimensional ensemble of electron spins on the surface of a diamond crystal. We use a near-surface nitrogen-vacancy center as a nanoscale magnetic sensor to probe correlation dynamics of individual spins in a dipolar interacting surface spin ensemble. We observe that the relaxation rate for each spin is significantly slower than the naïve expectation based on independently estimated dipolar interaction strengths with nearest neighbors and is strongly correlated with the timescale of the local magnetic field fluctuation. We show that this anomalously slow relaxation rate is due to the presence of strong dynamical disorder and present a quantitative explanation based on dynamic resonance counting. Finally, we use resonant spin-lock driving to control the effective strength of the local magnetic fields and reveal the role of the dynamical disorder in different regimes. Our work paves the way towards microscopic study and control of quantum thermalization in strongly interacting disordered spin ensembles.

arXiv:2207.10688•Physical Review Letters•Feb 5, 2025•8 citations
Temperature is one of the key factors influencing the performance of thermal atomic ensemble spin sensors, including aspects such as temperature gradients, temperature uniformity, and temperature stability. Fluctuations in the temperature of the alkali vapor cell can have complex and detrimental effects on the output signals of thermal atomic ensemble spin sensors, leading to a reduction in detection sensitivity. Therefore, it is essential to maintain temperature uniformity within the vapor cell and mitigate the adverse impacts of temperature gradients. This paper discusses the impact of temperature on thermal atomic ensemble spin sensors and elaborates on the role of temperature uniformity in quantum precision measurement. It reviews both active and passive devices aimed at improving temperature uniformity and provides an initial discussion on the potential application of thermal metamaterials for thermal atomic ensemble-based quantum precision measurement sensors. Finally, by synthesizing current challenges and future prospects, it is suggested that the design principles of thermal cloaks could serve as one potential passive approach to achieving temperature uniformity for thermal atomic ensemble-based quantum precision measurement applications.
We explore the applications of spin noise spectroscopy (SNS) for detection of the spin properties of atomic ensembles in and out of equilibrium. In SNS, a linearly polarized far-detuned probe beam on passing through an ensemble of atomic spins acquires the information of the spin correlations of the system which is extracted using its time-resolved Faraday-rotation noise. We measure various atomic, magnetic and sub-atomic properties as well as perform precision magnetometry using SNS in rubidium atomic vapor in thermal equilibrium. Thereafter, we manipulate the relative spin populations between different ground state hyperfine levels of rubidium by controlled optical pumping which drives the system out of equilibrium. We then apply SNS to probe such spin imbalance non-perturbatively. We further use this driven atomic vapor to demonstrate that SNS can have better resolution than typical absorption spectroscopy in detecting spectral lines in the presence of various spectral broadening mechanisms.
Understanding the thermalization dynamics of quantum many-body systems at the microscopic level is among the central challenges of modern statistical physics. Here we experimentally investigate individual spin dynamics in a two-dimensional ensemble of electron spins on the surface of a diamond crystal. We use a near-surface nitrogen-vacancy center as a nanoscale magnetic sensor to probe correlation dynamics of individual spins in a dipolar interacting surface spin ensemble. We observe that the relaxation rate for each spin is significantly slower than the naïve expectation based on independently estimated dipolar interaction strengths with nearest neighbors and is strongly correlated with the timescale of the local magnetic field fluctuation. We show that this anomalously slow relaxation rate is due to the presence of strong dynamical disorder and present a quantitative explanation based on dynamic resonance counting. Finally, we use resonant spin-lock driving to control the effective strength of the local magnetic fields and reveal the role of the dynamical disorder in different regimes. Our work paves the way towards microscopic study and control of quantum thermalization in strongly interacting disordered spin ensembles.