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arXiv · 1001.0345

Isotropic magnetometry with simultaneous excitation of orientation and alignment CPT resonances

A. Ben-Kish·M. V. Romalis
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Abstract

Atomic magnetometers have very high absolute precision and sensitivity to magnetic fields but suffer from a fundamental problem: the vectorial or tensorial interaction of light with atoms leads to "dead zones", certain orientations of magnetic field where the magnetometer loses its sensitivity. We demonstrate a simple polarization modulation scheme that simultaneously creates coherent population trapping (CPT) in orientation and alignment, thereby eliminating dead zones. Using $^{87}$Rb in a 10 Torr buffer gas cell we measure narrow, high-contrast CPT transparency peaks in all orientations and also show absence of systematic effects associated with non-linear Zeeman splitting.

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A. Ben-Kish, M. V. Romalis. 2010-01-03. Isotropic magnetometry with simultaneous excitation of orientation and alignment CPT resonances. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.105.193601

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