Magnetic-field-sensitive multi-wave interference

• Published in: Frontiers of physics Vol. 18; no. 5; p. 52306
• Main Authors: Yan, Wenhua, Ren, Xudong, Xu, Wenjie, Hu, Zhongkun, Zhou, Minkang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Beijing Higher Education Press 01.10.2023; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Astronomy; Astrophysics and Cosmology; atom interferometer; Atomic; cold atom device; Cold atoms; Condensed Matter Physics; Efficiency; Evolution; Interference; Magnetic fields; Magnetic studies; magnetometer; Molecular; multi-wave interference; Optical and Plasma Physics; Particle and Nuclear Physics; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Probability; Radio frequency; Research Article; cold atom device; multi-wave interference; atom interferometer; magnetometer
• ISSN: 2095-0462; 2095-0470
• DOI: 10.1007/s11467-023-1300-8

We report an experimental study of magnetic-field-sensitive multi-wave interference, realized in a three-wave RF-atom system. In the F = 1 hyperfine level of the 87 R b 5 2 S 1 / 2 ground state, Ramsey fringes were observed via the spin-selective Raman detection. A decrease in the fringe contrast was observed with increasing free evolution time. The maximum evolution time for observable fringe contrasts was investigated at different atom temperatures, under free-falling and trapped conditions. As the main interest of the Ramsey method, the improvement in magnetic field resolution is observed with an increase of evolution time T up to 3 ms and with the measurement resolution reaching 0.85 nT. This study paves the way for precision magnetic field measurements based on cold atoms.