Observation of magnetic amplification using dark spins

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Jiang, Min; Huang, Ying; Guo, Chang; Su, Haowen; Wang, Yuanhong; Peng, Xinhua; Budker, Dmitry
• 署名单位: Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Science & Technology of China, CAS; Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Science & Technology of China, CAS; CAS Center for Excellence in Quantum Information & Quantum Physics; Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Science & Technology of China, CAS; Hefei National Laboratory; Helmholtz Association; GSI Helmholtz-Center for Heavy Ion Research; Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz; University of California System; University of California Berkeley
• 刊物名称: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0027-10272
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2315696121
• 发表日期: 2024-04-23
• 关键词: quantum limits; exchange; resonance; masers; xe-129

摘要

Quantum amplification enables the enhancement of weak signals and is of great importance for precision measurements, such as biomedical science and tests of fundamental symmetries. Here, we observe a previously unexplored magnetic amplification using dark noble -gas nuclear spins in the absence of pump light. Such dark spins exhibit remarkable coherence lasting up to 6 min and the resilience against the perturbations caused by overlapping alkali -metal gas. We demonstrate that the observed phenomenon, referred to as dark spin amplification, significantly magnifies magnetic field signals by at least three orders of magnitude. As an immediate application, we showcase an ultrasensitive magnetometer capable of measuring subfemtotesla fields in a single 500-s measurement. Our approach is generic and can be applied to a wide range of noble -gas isotopes, and we discuss promising optimizations that could further improve the current signal amplification up to 10 4 with 21 Ne, 10 5 with 129 Xe, and 10 6 with 3 He. This work unlocks opportunities in precision measurements, including searches for ultralight dark matter with sensitivity well beyond the supernova -observation constraints.