Ultra-compact and high-precision differential detection method based on liquid crystal polarization grating for miniature atomic magnetometer

Atomic magnetometers (AMs) that use alkali vapors, such as rubidium, are among the most sensitive sensors for magnetic field measurement. They commonly use polarization differential detection to mitigate common-mode noise. Nevertheless, traditional differential detection optics, including polarization beam splitters (PBS) and half-wave plates, are typically bulky and large, which restricts further reductions in sensor dimensions. In this study, a combination of liquid crystal polarization grating (LCPG) and liquid crystal quarter-wave plate is used for differential detection in AMs, with magnetic field strength determined by measuring the intensity of two diffracted beams from the LCPG. The experimental findings indicate that the fabricated LCPG exhibits a circularly polarized extinction ratio of 3,656 and achieves an average diffraction efficiency of 99 %. In addition, the differential detection method based on LCPG can achieve an angular resolution of 1.48 × 10−7 rad. Subsequently, the method is employed in an AM to achieve an average magnetic sensitivity of 13.8 fT/Hz1/2. Compared to the PBS-based differential detection method, this method enhances the magnetometer response coefficient by 13 % and achieves co-side distribution of the two diffracted beams, thereby avoiding the need for additional vertical optical paths. The effective thickness of the detection optics is reduced to the micrometer scale, allowing for future integration as thin films onto microfabricated vapor cells. This study offers a practical solution for miniaturized AMs with exceptionally high sensitivity.