{"title":"Quantum-enhanced NMR Co-Magnetometers Based on Encounter-propagating Pump Beams","authors":"Tengyue Wang, Jianli Li, Zhanchao Liu, Jinpeng Peng, Zekun Wu, Xuelei Wang","doi":"10.1002/qute.202400625","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p>Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) co-magnetometers are advanced quantum sensors capable of measuring angular velocity for inertial navigation. Within the Rb-Xe atomic ensemble, Rb atoms absorb polarized light, decreasing electron spin polarization as the light travels greater distances. This attenuation causes a gradient in Rb spin polarization that severely affects atomic relaxation characteristics and degrades NMR sensors’ performance. Considering atomic diffusion motion, a theoretical simulation model is developed and the spatial distribution of electron spin polarization under the encounter-propagating dual-beam configuration is simulated. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed dual-beam scheme achieves a more uniform distribution of electron polarization within the atomic vapor cell. Experiments reveal an 18% enhancement in <sup>129</sup>Xe nuclear spin polarization using the dual-beam scheme compared to the conventional single-beam. Through the Fermi contact interaction between optically pumped Rb and Xe atoms, a more uniform spatial distribution of Rb spin polarization reduces the gradient relaxation of Xe atoms and its depolarization effects, thereby significantly enhancing the macroscopic Xe spin polarization and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of NMR sensors. This study presents a new method for improving atomic polarization, significantly enhancing the performance of quantum sensors.</p>","PeriodicalId":72073,"journal":{"name":"Advanced quantum technologies","volume":"8 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3000,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Advanced quantum technologies","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/qute.202400625","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"OPTICS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) co-magnetometers are advanced quantum sensors capable of measuring angular velocity for inertial navigation. Within the Rb-Xe atomic ensemble, Rb atoms absorb polarized light, decreasing electron spin polarization as the light travels greater distances. This attenuation causes a gradient in Rb spin polarization that severely affects atomic relaxation characteristics and degrades NMR sensors’ performance. Considering atomic diffusion motion, a theoretical simulation model is developed and the spatial distribution of electron spin polarization under the encounter-propagating dual-beam configuration is simulated. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed dual-beam scheme achieves a more uniform distribution of electron polarization within the atomic vapor cell. Experiments reveal an 18% enhancement in 129Xe nuclear spin polarization using the dual-beam scheme compared to the conventional single-beam. Through the Fermi contact interaction between optically pumped Rb and Xe atoms, a more uniform spatial distribution of Rb spin polarization reduces the gradient relaxation of Xe atoms and its depolarization effects, thereby significantly enhancing the macroscopic Xe spin polarization and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of NMR sensors. This study presents a new method for improving atomic polarization, significantly enhancing the performance of quantum sensors.