Magneto-Optical Ceramics with High Transparency for Highly Sensitive Magnetometer via Quantum Weak Measurement

• Published in: ACS applied materials & interfaces Vol. 16; no. 30; pp. 39551 - 39560
• Main Authors: Han, Wenhan, Guo, Hao, Liu, Yurong, Wu, Jiguo, Zhang, Zhiyou, Ye, Yucheng, Qi, Jianqi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Chemical Society 31.07.2024
• Subjects: Functional Inorganic Materials and Devices; calcining kinetics; quantum weak measurement; ultralow magnetic field measurement; magneto-optical ceramics; Verdet constant
• ISSN: 1944-8244; 1944-8252; 1944-8252
• DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c04658

Sensitive magnetometer technology is desirable for biomagnetic field detection and geomagnetic field measuring. Signal amplification materials such as magneto-optical crystals or ceramics are crucial for enhancing detection sensitivity, but severe optical scattering and low Verdet constant further limit its application. To develop high-sensitivity magnetometers for quantum weak measurement schemes, we have conducted investigations on the powder calcining dynamics and prepared a series of high-optical-quality (Ho/Dy)2Zr2O7 transparent ceramic samples. The Verdet constant of magneto-optical materials was measured across a continuous wavelength spectrum, exhibiting a peak at 283 ± 5 rad/(T·m). We further established an electron transition mechanism to elucidate the exceptional magneto-optical attributes of dysprosium. In addition, samples demonstrated superior performance in weak-value amplification, reaching a low detectable magnetic field threshold of 3.5 × 10–8 T and continuously worked over 6 h with high stability. Our work developed a highly sensitive magnetometer using optimized magneto-optical ceramics and provided guidance on design, fabrication, and application for magneto-optical ceramics in quantum weak measurement.