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Sixth Symposium on Novel Optoelectronic Detection Technology and Applications

Precise quantitative filling method and experimental validation of rubidium vapor cells for quantum sensing applications

Yuan Hu, Yi-an Xu, Haoran Xu, Zhihong Wu, Haoying Pang, Zhuangsheng Zhu

Published May 11, 2026• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Rubidium atomic systems are widely employed in quantum precision measurement. As a core component of numerous quantum sensors, the rubidium vapor cell plays a critical role in determining sensitivity and long-term stability of these devices. However, conventional filling techniques remain inadequate for achieving precise quantitative control of rubidium atoms within the vapor cells. In this work, a precise quantitative filling method of rubidium atoms into vapor cells driven by a zoned temperature gradient is proposed. By constructing a multizone temperature field that decreases monotonically from high to low temperatures under a high vacuum condition, directional vapor transport of rubidium atoms is realized. Experimental results demonstrate that the temperature dependence of the atomic number density agrees well with predictions of the empirical model, while the total atomic mass loss is maintained below 10%. These results confirm the validity of the filling method, providing both theoretical support and experimental basis for the scalable fabrication of high-consistency vapor cells for quantum sensing applications.

DOI
10.1117/12.3106959

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Rubidium atomic systems are widely employed in quantum precision measurement. As a core component of numerous quantum sensors, the rubidium vapor cell plays a critical role in determining sensitivity and long-term stability of these devices. However, conventional filling techniques remain inadequate for achieving precise quantitative control of rubidium atoms within the vapor cells. In this work, a precise quantitative filling method of rubidium atoms into vapor cells driven by a zoned temperature gradient is proposed. By constructing a multizone temperature field that decreases monotonically from high to low temperatures under a high vacuum condition, directional vapor transport of rubidium atoms is realized. Experimental results demonstrate that the temperature dependence of the atomic number density agrees well with predictions of the empirical model, while the total atomic mass loss is maintained below 10%. These results confirm the validity of the filling method, providing both theoretical support and experimental basis for the scalable fabrication of high-consistency vapor cells for quantum sensing applications.
Micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS)-based (chip-scale) alkali vapor cells are key components in emerging quantum technologies, where device performance critically depends on the atomic number density. Thus, it is important to have an accurate estimate of the atomic number density in MEMS-based alkali vapor cells to optimize light-matter interactions and design efficient quantum sensing systems. Here, a quantitatively validated method is presented for determining the rubidium (Rb) atomic number density in warm vapor using Single-Pass Absorption Spectroscopy (SPAS). The absolute transmission spectra are measured and modeled using the 780.24~nm and 420.29~nm transitions in Rb-filled MEMS vapor. The theoretical model employs a density-matrix formalism within the Lindblad framework and incorporates directly measurable experimental parameters, such as laser beam power, diameter, and cell temperature. The model explicitly accounts for optical pumping, Doppler broadening, and transit-time broadening effects and exhibits quantitative agreement (>99%> 99\%>99%) with experimental spectra over a broad range of temperatures (293-353~K), laser probe powers of approximately 10~μμμW-100~μμμW at the 780.24~nm transition and 8~μμμW-80~μμμW at the 420.29~nm transition, and cell lengths (2--100~mm). This method demonstrates a practical and reliable approach for determining the density of alkali vapor cells for quantum sensing, metrology, and quantum communication applications.
The microfabricated alkali atomic vapor cells are essential for the chip scale quantum sensing instruments which provide a robust, simple platform for precision measurement for a quantum system. In order to solve the problems of difficult quantitative filling of alkali atoms and poor hermeticity in the fabricated process of the cells, the preparation of microfabricated alkali atomic vapor cells with good hermeticity is studied. The cells are fabricated by the microelectromechanical system (MEMS) technology. Rubidium (Rb) atomic vapor cells with nitrogen (N 2 ) as buffer gas are successfully obtained by photolysis of rubidium azide (RbN 3 ), which is confirmed by the presence of Rb vapor in the cells through absorption spectroscopy for the 5S 1/2 → 5P 3/2 and 5S 1/2 → 5P 1/2 transitions in Rb atoms at 780 nm and 795 nm. The influences of filling amount and baking temperature of RbN 3 solution on the hermeticity of the microfabricated atomic vapor cells are demonstrated. Also, the influences of filling amount of Rb atoms and temperature on the absorption spectrum intensities of Rb vapor in the cells are studied through a theoretical analysis. This research provides a reference for the design and preparation of high quality microfabricated alkali atomic vapor cells.
Atom-based sensors have the potential to enhance inertial navigation in Global Positioning System (GPS)-denied environments, providing an alternative to traditional accelerometers, gyroscopes, and sensors. Accurate temperature characterization is critical for atom interferometry, which relies on precise control of atomic motion to achieve high sensitivity. This research develops a model to infer the temperature of laser-cooled rubidium vapor by analyzing its ballistic expansion. The release and recapture method is employed to track atomic cloud dynamics after trap release, refining temperature inference through comparison with theoretical models. A magneto-optical trap is used to cool and confine the atoms, followed by sub-Doppler cooling to achieve lower temperatures. By characterizing expansion dynamics, this study improves temperature measurement techniques for cold atomic samples, addressing sources of systematic uncertainty that affect precision in quantum sensors. These findings contribute to advancements in laser cooling methodologies and atomic interferometry at the Naval Postgraduate School, with direct defense applications in inertial navigation, precision measurement, and sensing.
Abstract Glass cells containing neutral atoms are commonly employed in spectroscopy experiments and have potential applications in metrology. The temperature of the vapor plays a vital role as it directly influences the absorption rate of rubidium atoms. In this research, we study the effect of vapor temperature on the absorption spectrum of rubidium atoms. We observed the broadening of the spectral line and increased absorption, enabling us to determine the absorbance of atoms within the cell. These results provide valuable insights for our future work to characterize absorbance of homemade vapor cells for portable quantum device applications.
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.