Optical frequency dependence of the light shift effect for vector magnetometry with cesium

Area of Science:

• Atomic physics
• Quantum sensing
• Optical magnetometry

Background:

• Atomic vapor magnetometers offer high sensitivity for magnetic field magnitude measurements.
• Vector measurements require bias fields, achievable remotely via the optical light shift (LS) effect using fiber-delivered optical beams.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of optical light shift (LS) effect frequency on vector measurements in atomic vapor magnetometers.
• To analyze the angular error introduced by the LS effect near absorption resonances and its dependence on LS beam power and optical frequency.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing an optically pumped vapor vector magnetometer.
• Investigating the optical light shift (LS) effect with a fiber-delivered optical beam.
• Tuning the optical frequency of the LS effect near absorption resonances.

Main Results:

• The optical frequency of the LS effect introduces an angular error in measured field orientation when tuned near absorption resonances.
• This angle-shifting effect is dependent on the LS beam power.
• LS response, normalized to power, is higher at lower powers due to saturation but also frequency-dependent.

Conclusions:

• Careful selection of LS optical frequency and power is necessary to optimize the LS effect.
• Avoiding angular errors requires precise tuning of the LS effect parameters to mitigate unwanted frequency and power dependencies.