arXiv subjects

S. Pustelny

Publications and source records attributed to S. Pustelny.

28 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2008

Controlling atomic vapor density in paraffin-coated cells using light-induced atomic desorption

Atomic-vapor density change due to light induced atomic desorption (LIAD) is studied in paraffin-coated rubidium, cesium, sodium and potassium cells. In the present experiment, low-intensity probe light is used to obtain an absorption spectrum and measure the vapor density, while light from an argon-ion laser, array of light emitting diodes, or discharge lamp is used for desorption. Potassium is found to exhibit significantly weaker LIAD from paraffin compared to Rb and Cs, and we were unable to observe LIAD with sodium. A simple LIAD model is applied to describe the observed vapor-density dynamics, and the role of the cell's stem is explored through the use of cells with lockable stems. Stabilization of Cs vapor density above its equilibrium value over 25 minutes is demonstrated. The results of this work could be used to assess the use of LIAD for vapor-density control in magnetometers, clocks, and gyroscopes utilizing coated cells.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2007

Magnetometry Based on Nonlinear Magneto-Optical Rotation with Amplitude-Modulated Light

We report on an all-optical magnetometric technique based on nonlinear magneto-optical rotation with amplitude-modulated light. The method enables sensitive magnetic-field measurements in a broad dynamic range. We demonstrate the sensitivity of $4.3\times10^{-9}$ G/$\sqrt{\text{Hz}}$ at 10 mG and the magnetic field tracking in a range of 40 mG. The fundamental limits of the method sensitivity and factors determining current performance of the magnetometer are discussed.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2007

Production and detection of atomic hexadecapole at Earth's magnetic field

Anisotropy of atomic states is characterized by population differences and coherences between Zeeman sublevels. It can be efficiently created and probed via resonant interactions with light, the technique which is at the heart of modern atomic clocks and magnetometers. Recently, nonlinear magneto-optical techniques have been developed for selective production and detection of higher polarization moments, hexadecapole and hexacontatetrapole, in the ground states of the alkali atoms. Extension of these techniques into the range of geomagnetic fields is important for practical applications. This is because hexadecapole polarization corresponding to the $ΔM=4$ Zeeman coherence, with maximum possible $ΔM$ for electronic angular momentum $J=1/2$ and nuclear spin $I=3/2$, is insensitive to the nonlinear Zeeman effect (NLZ). This is of particular interest because NLZ normally leads to resonance splitting and systematic errors in atomic magnetometers. However, optical signals due to the hexadecapole moment decline sharply as a function of magnetic field. We report a novel method that allows selective creation of a macroscopic long-lived ground-state hexadecapole polarization. The immunity of the hexadecapole signal to NLZ is demonstrated with F=2 $^{87}$Rb atoms at Earth's field.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2006

Influence of magnetic-field inhomogeneity on nonlinear magneto-optical resonances

In this work, a sensitivity of the rate of relaxation of ground-state atomic coherences to magnetic-field inhomogeneities is studied. Such coherences give rise to many interesting phenomena in light-atom interactions, and their lifetimes are a limiting factor for achieving better sensitivity, resolution or contrast in many applications. For atoms contained in a vapor cell, some of the coherence-relaxation mechanisms are related to magnetic-field inhomogeneities. We present a simple model describing relaxation due to such inhomogeneities in a buffer-gas-free anti-relaxation coated cell. A relation is given between relaxation rate and magnetic-field inhomogeneities including the dependence on cell size and atomic spices. Experimental results, which confirm predictions of the model, are presented. Different regimes, in which the relaxation rate is equally sensitive to the gradients in any direction and in which it is insensitive to gradients transverse to the bias magnetic field, are predicted and demonstrated experimentally.

physics.class-ph↗

arXiv2006

Detection of radio frequency magnetic fields using nonlinear magneto-optical rotation

We describe a room-temperature alkali-metal atomic magnetometer for detection of small, high frequency magnetic fields. The magnetometer operates by detecting optical rotation due to the precession of an aligned ground state in the presence of a small oscillating magnetic field. The resonance frequency of the magnetometer can be adjusted to any desired value by tuning the bias magnetic field. We demonstrate a sensitivity of $100\thinspace{\rm pG/\sqrt{Hz}\thinspace(RMS)}$ in a 3.5 cm diameter, paraffin coated cell. Based on detection at the photon shot-noise limit, we project a sensitivity of $20\thinspace{\rm pG/\sqrt{Hz}\thinspace(RMS)}$.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2006

Nonlinear magneto-optical rotation with modulated light in tilted magnetic fields

Larmor precession of laser-polarized atoms contained in anti-relaxation-coated cells, detected via nonlinear magneto-optical rotation (NMOR) is a promising technique for a new generation of ultra-sensitive atomic magnetometers. For magnetic fields directed along the light propagation direction, resonances in NMOR appear when linearly polarized light is frequency- or amplitude-modulated at twice the Larmor frequency. Because the frequency of these resonances depends on the magnitude but not the direction of the field, they are useful for scalar magnetometry. New NMOR resonances at the Larmor frequency appear when the magnetic field is tilted away from the light propagation direction in the plane defined by the light propagation and polarization vectors. These new resonances, studied both experimentally and with a density matrix calculation in the present work, offer a convenient method for NMOR-based vector magnetometry.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2006

Pump-probe nonlinear magneto-optical rotation with frequency modulated light

Specific types of atomic coherences between Zeeman sublevels can be generated and detected using a method based on nonlinear magneto-optical rotation with frequency modulated light. Linearly polarized, frequency modulated light is employed to selectively generate ground-state coherences between Zeeman sublevels for which $Δm=2$ and $Δm=4$ in $^{85}$Rb and $^{87}$Rb atoms, and additionally $Δm=6$ in $^{85}$Rb. The atomic coherences are detected with a separate, unmodulated probe light beam. Separation of the pump and probe beams enables independent investigation of the processes of creation and detection of the atomic coherences. With the present technique the transfer of the Zeeman coherences, including high-order coherences, from excited to ground state by spontaneous emission has been observed.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2006

Nonlinear magneto-optical rotation with frequency-modulated light in the geophysical field range

Recent work investigating resonant nonlinear magneto-optical rotation (NMOR) related to long-lived ($τ\ts{rel} \sim 1 {\rm s}$) ground-state atomic coherences has demonstrated potential magnetometric sensitivities exceeding $10^{-11} {\rm G/\sqrt{Hz}}$ for small ($\lesssim 1 {\rm μG}$) magnetic fields. In the present work, NMOR using frequency-modulated light (FM NMOR) is studied in the regime where the longitudinal magnetic field is in the geophysical range ($\sim 500 {\rm mG}$), of particular interest for many applications. In this regime a splitting of the FM NMOR resonance due to the nonlinear Zeeman effect is observed. At sufficiently high light intensities, there is also a splitting of the FM NMOR resonances due to ac Stark shifts induced by the optical field, as well as evidence of alignment-to-orientation conversion type processes. The consequences of these effects for FM-NMOR-based atomic magnetometry in the geophysical field range are considered.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2005

Nonlinear Magneto-Optical Rotation with Amplitude-Modulated Light: AMOR

A new technique of nonlinear magneto-optical rotation with amplitude modulated light is developed. The technique is an alternative to its counterpart with frequency modulated light and can be applied to sensitive measurements of magnetic fields ranging from microgauss to the Earth-field level. The rotation signals exhibit nontrivial features like narrowed non-Lorentzian lineshapes and multi-component resonances.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2004

Investigation of microwave transitions and nonlinear magneto-optical rotation in anti-relaxation-coated cells

Using laser optical pumping, widths and frequency shifts are determined for microwave transitions between ground-state hyperfine components of $^{85}$Rb and $^{87}$Rb atoms contained in vapor cells with alkane anti-relaxation coatings. The results are compared with data on Zeeman relaxation obtained in nonlinear magneto-optical rotation (NMOR) experiments, a comparison important for quantitative understanding of spin-relaxation mechanisms in coated cells. By comparing cells manufactured over a forty-year period we demonstrate the long-term stability of coated cells, an important property for atomic clocks and magnetometers.

physics.atom-ph↗