Total-field atomic magnetometry using an elliptically-polarized frequency-modulated light beam for geomagnetic-field applications

Abstract

We investigate an all-optical scheme for high-sensitivity measurements of the Earth's scale magnetic field ($B$). The scheme is based on the Bell-Bloom technique with frequency-modulated light. A single elliptically polarized light beam is used both for pumping the alkali-metal atoms and probing Larmor precession of their spins under the external magnetic field. In contrast to many other high-sensitivity magnetometry schemes based on nonlinear polarization rotation of the light, the proposed approach enables the observation of magnetic resonance via changes in the light-beam ellipticity parameter. The approach has been validated in experiments with a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser, irradiating a $0.125$ cm$^3$ cesium vapor cell filled with a buffer gas. In the current experimental conditions, the achieved sensitivity is estimated at $220$ fT/$\surd$Hz under $B$$\,\approx\,$$50$ $\mu$T, while the shot-noise floor corresponds to $\approx\,$$20$ fT/$\surd$Hz. The bandwidth is estimated at $\approx\,$$1$ kHz. The proposed simple and robust single-beam scheme is well suited for miniaturization and is therefore particularly promising for the development of compact, highly sensitive, low-power-consumption atomic magnetometers for a wide range of applications in the geomagnetic field.