Session R1: Poster Session III: 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm

4:00 PM–4:00 PM, Friday, May 30, 2008
HUB-Robeson Center Room: Alumni Hall


Abstract ID: BAPS.2008.DAMOP.R1.123

Abstract: R1.00123 : Back-reaction and dipolar interaction noise of a spin magnetometer

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Authors:

  Seung-Kyun Lee
    (Princeton University)

  M.V. Romalis
    (Princeton University)

An atomic magnetometer detects magnetic field through magnetic resonance of atomic spins, and competes in its sensitivity with a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID). In this work we compare the fundamental quantum noise of a dc SQUID with that of a spin-based magnetometer. In particular, we calculate the back-reaction noise of a generic spin magnetometer coupled to an input coil, and show that a linear amplifier built from such a magnetometer is bound by a universal noise limit derived from the uncertainty principle. Dipolar spin-spin interaction is a fundamental physical process which affects decoherence and fluctuation in a spin magnetometer. We argue that an isolated magnetometer dominated by such interaction can reach a magnetic field sensitivity many orders of magnitude higher than that of a dc SQUID, and present numerical examples based on observed decoherence times in various atomic spin systems.

To cite this abstract, use the following reference: http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2008.DAMOP.R1.123