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

Quantum Science and Technology

Systematic nonuniform field effects in miniature atomic co-magnetometers

L M Ellis, Maitreyi Jayaseelan, Lucas M. Rushton, J. D. Zipfel, Patrick Bevington, Benjamin Steele, G Quick, Witold Chałupczak, Vera Guarrera

Published Aug 27, 2025• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

Abstract Wafer-fabricated vapor cells are essential components in the development of scalable, field-deployable atomic sensing systems, including atomic spin gyroscopes (ASGs). This paper presents a systematic study of magnetic resonance spectra obtained in a two-chamber, millimeter-sized, wafer-fabricated cell containing Cs, 129 Xe, 131 Xe, and N 2 buffer gas. For a range of vapor temperatures and pump powers, we identify characteristic structural and dynamical effects, including electric quadrupole splitting of the 131 Xe frequency and spectral branching of the 129 Xe frequency and linewidth as the signature of a parity-time symmetry-broken phase. Remarkably, we demonstrate that a primary class of systematic nonuniform field effects can be reduced to a simple one-dimensional linear gradient. We leverage these effects to offer regimes of optimized and robust sensor operation, setting a benchmark for the performance of wafer-fabricated vapor cells in both ASGs and more broad quantum technologies.

DOI
10.1088/2058-9565/adffb0

Related papers

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

Micro-fabricated alkali vapor cells for atomic spin gyroscope study

Yao Chen, Mingzhi Yu, Yintao Ma +4 more

The combination of MEMS technology with atomic spin devices could fabricate chip scale atomic sensors. In most of the atomic devices based on alkali metals, the key component is an alkali vapor cell. Here we describe an alkali vapor cell fabrication technic for atomic spin gyroscope study. In the alkali vapor cell, alkali metal is filled in an oxygen and water free glovebox and noble gas isotopes such as129Xe and131Xe are also filled. Compared to an atomic magnetometer, in an atomic spin gyroscope, the isotope enriched noble gases are typically very expensive. We need to do recycling of these expensive gases after filling in the anode bonding chamber or else the gases will be wasted. Due to the large volume of the anode bonding chamber utilized in the fabrication process, a recycling platform is built based on liquid nitrogen. The relaxation time is a very important parameter of an alkali vapor cell. We developed a platform with magnetic field shielding system, non-magnetic field heating and single beam atomic spin detection subsystem. The spin relaxation time of the noble gases is tested in this study.

IEEE International Conference on Nano/Micro Engineered and Molecular Systems•Apr 25, 2021•3 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

Research progress of chip-scale atomic vapor cells for atomic sensors

Jianwei Hou, Faheng Zang, Dezhao Li +3 more

High-sensitivity sensors play a critical role in fundamental physics research, space magnetic field detection, geological monitoring, and biomedical applications. Atomic sensors, based on quantum mechanics principles, such as atomic magnetometers, atomic clocks, and atomic gyroscopes, etc. have emerged as pivotal technical equipment for precision measurements due to their exceptional sensitivity, low power consumption, and long-term stability. The atomic vapor cell, serving as the core component, facilitates quantum state manipulation via the Zeeman effect. Miniaturization and integration of these cells have not only advanced the development of portable atomic magnetometers but also provided a foundation for breakthroughs in chip-scale atomic clocks and enhanced navigation accuracy of atomic gyroscopes. The research progresses of chip-scale atomic vapor cells in recent years are reviewed. The advancements in alkali metal introduction methods, anti-relaxation surface coatings, and micro-nano fabrication techniques have enabled the miniaturization of atomic vapor cells while preserving high performance, creating new opportunities for the deployment of quantum sensing technologies across diverse fields. Looking ahead, multifunctional integration and material innovations in atomic vapor cells are expected to further broaden their applications in time-frequency standards, inertial navigation systems, and weak magnetic field measurements.

Gongneng cailiao yu qijian xuebao•Jan 1, 2026•0 citations

Quadrupolar interaction induced frequency shift of 131 Xe nuclear spins on the surface of silicon

Yao Chen, Mingzhi Yu, Yintao Ma +6 more

Abstract The combination of micro-machined technology with atomic spin gyroscope (ASG) devices can be used to fabricate a chip-scale atomic spin gyroscope (CASG). The core of the gyroscope is a micromachined vapour cell, which contains alkali metal and isotope-enriched noble gases, such as 129 Xe and 131 Xe . The quadrupolar frequency shift of 131 Xe is a key parameter that can affect the drift of the ASG and is related to the material of the cell in which they are contained. In micromachining technology, the utilised material is silicon. In this study, we investigated the electric quadrupolar frequency shift of 131 Xe atoms with the silicon wall of a micro-machined vapour cell. A cylindrical micromachined vapour cell was utilised in the experiment, and a large part of the inner cell surface comprised silicon material. We studied the temperature dependence of the 129 Xe spin relaxation and 131 Xe frequency shifts to evaluate the interaction of the nuclear spin with the container wall and alkali metal atoms. The results show that the average twisted angle of the 131 Xe nuclear spins as they collided with the silicon wall was measured as 29 × 10 − 6 rad. The desorption energy required for the 131 Xe nuclear spin to escape from the silicon surface was E s i = 0.009 eV . This study could help improve the bias stability of the CASG, which is a key parameter for the gyroscope, and may help to develop a method to study the surface properties of various materials.

arXiv:2111.09110•Journal of Physics D Applied Physics•Jun 9, 2022•7 citations

Subwavelength micromachined vapor-cell-based Rydberg quantum antennas

Avital Giat, Kfir Levi, Ori Nefesh +1 more

Abstract Micromachined vapor cells have revolutionized chip-scale quantum sensors, including magnetometers and atomic clocks. In parallel, Rydberg-atom quantum sensing has emerged as a powerful platform for broadband, non-invasive and ultra-sensitive electrometry, enabling compact atom-based antenna elements for electromagnetic reception, often referred to as quantum antennas. Yet, to date, Rydberg sensing has largely been limited to glass-blown, cm-scale vapor cells. Here, we perform Rydberg spectroscopy and electrometry using a wafer-scale-fabricated Pyrex–Si–Pyrex cell with millimeter-scale dimensions. The Rydberg spectroscopic line is characterized with respect to critical parameters such as temperature, the frequency and amplitude of the applied radio frequency (RF) field, light intensity, and the spatial position of the interrogating beam. Our study reveals lineshapes directly influenced by a complex landscape of electrostatic fields with values up to approximately 0.6 V cm − 1 . By controlling key parameters, we were able to reduce the effect of these internal electric fields, and demonstrate the detection of RF fields assessed using the Autler–Townes splitting with a minimum detectable field of 20 μ V cm − 1 . Our results highlight the potential of micromachined vapor cells for subwavelength electromagnetic field measurements, with applications in communications, near-field RF imaging, and chip-scale quantum technologies.

Quantum Science and Technology•May 28, 2026•2 citations
Abstract Wafer-fabricated vapor cells are essential components in the development of scalable, field-deployable atomic sensing systems, including atomic spin gyroscopes (ASGs). This paper presents a systematic study of magnetic resonance spectra obtained in a two-chamber, millimeter-sized, wafer-fabricated cell containing Cs, 129 Xe, 131 Xe, and N 2 buffer gas. For a range of vapor temperatures and pump powers, we identify characteristic structural and dynamical effects, including electric quadrupole splitting of the 131 Xe frequency and spectral branching of the 129 Xe frequency and linewidth as the signature of a parity-time symmetry-broken phase. Remarkably, we demonstrate that a primary class of systematic nonuniform field effects can be reduced to a simple one-dimensional linear gradient. We leverage these effects to offer regimes of optimized and robust sensor operation, setting a benchmark for the performance of wafer-fabricated vapor cells in both ASGs and more broad quantum technologies.
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.
The combination of MEMS technology with atomic spin devices could fabricate chip scale atomic sensors. In most of the atomic devices based on alkali metals, the key component is an alkali vapor cell. Here we describe an alkali vapor cell fabrication technic for atomic spin gyroscope study. In the alkali vapor cell, alkali metal is filled in an oxygen and water free glovebox and noble gas isotopes such as129Xe and131Xe are also filled. Compared to an atomic magnetometer, in an atomic spin gyroscope, the isotope enriched noble gases are typically very expensive. We need to do recycling of these expensive gases after filling in the anode bonding chamber or else the gases will be wasted. Due to the large volume of the anode bonding chamber utilized in the fabrication process, a recycling platform is built based on liquid nitrogen. The relaxation time is a very important parameter of an alkali vapor cell. We developed a platform with magnetic field shielding system, non-magnetic field heating and single beam atomic spin detection subsystem. The spin relaxation time of the noble gases is tested in this study.
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.
High-sensitivity sensors play a critical role in fundamental physics research, space magnetic field detection, geological monitoring, and biomedical applications. Atomic sensors, based on quantum mechanics principles, such as atomic magnetometers, atomic clocks, and atomic gyroscopes, etc. have emerged as pivotal technical equipment for precision measurements due to their exceptional sensitivity, low power consumption, and long-term stability. The atomic vapor cell, serving as the core component, facilitates quantum state manipulation via the Zeeman effect. Miniaturization and integration of these cells have not only advanced the development of portable atomic magnetometers but also provided a foundation for breakthroughs in chip-scale atomic clocks and enhanced navigation accuracy of atomic gyroscopes. The research progresses of chip-scale atomic vapor cells in recent years are reviewed. The advancements in alkali metal introduction methods, anti-relaxation surface coatings, and micro-nano fabrication techniques have enabled the miniaturization of atomic vapor cells while preserving high performance, creating new opportunities for the deployment of quantum sensing technologies across diverse fields. Looking ahead, multifunctional integration and material innovations in atomic vapor cells are expected to further broaden their applications in time-frequency standards, inertial navigation systems, and weak magnetic field measurements.
Abstract The combination of micro-machined technology with atomic spin gyroscope (ASG) devices can be used to fabricate a chip-scale atomic spin gyroscope (CASG). The core of the gyroscope is a micromachined vapour cell, which contains alkali metal and isotope-enriched noble gases, such as 129 Xe and 131 Xe . The quadrupolar frequency shift of 131 Xe is a key parameter that can affect the drift of the ASG and is related to the material of the cell in which they are contained. In micromachining technology, the utilised material is silicon. In this study, we investigated the electric quadrupolar frequency shift of 131 Xe atoms with the silicon wall of a micro-machined vapour cell. A cylindrical micromachined vapour cell was utilised in the experiment, and a large part of the inner cell surface comprised silicon material. We studied the temperature dependence of the 129 Xe spin relaxation and 131 Xe frequency shifts to evaluate the interaction of the nuclear spin with the container wall and alkali metal atoms. The results show that the average twisted angle of the 131 Xe nuclear spins as they collided with the silicon wall was measured as 29 × 10 − 6 rad. The desorption energy required for the 131 Xe nuclear spin to escape from the silicon surface was E s i = 0.009 eV . This study could help improve the bias stability of the CASG, which is a key parameter for the gyroscope, and may help to develop a method to study the surface properties of various materials.
Abstract Micromachined vapor cells have revolutionized chip-scale quantum sensors, including magnetometers and atomic clocks. In parallel, Rydberg-atom quantum sensing has emerged as a powerful platform for broadband, non-invasive and ultra-sensitive electrometry, enabling compact atom-based antenna elements for electromagnetic reception, often referred to as quantum antennas. Yet, to date, Rydberg sensing has largely been limited to glass-blown, cm-scale vapor cells. Here, we perform Rydberg spectroscopy and electrometry using a wafer-scale-fabricated Pyrex–Si–Pyrex cell with millimeter-scale dimensions. The Rydberg spectroscopic line is characterized with respect to critical parameters such as temperature, the frequency and amplitude of the applied radio frequency (RF) field, light intensity, and the spatial position of the interrogating beam. Our study reveals lineshapes directly influenced by a complex landscape of electrostatic fields with values up to approximately 0.6 V cm − 1 . By controlling key parameters, we were able to reduce the effect of these internal electric fields, and demonstrate the detection of RF fields assessed using the Autler–Townes splitting with a minimum detectable field of 20 μ V cm − 1 . Our results highlight the potential of micromachined vapor cells for subwavelength electromagnetic field measurements, with applications in communications, near-field RF imaging, and chip-scale quantum technologies.