- Open Access
Bandwidth-enhanced noise-suppressed current source enabled by a spin-exchange relaxation-free magnetometer
Phys. Rev. Applied 26, 014042 – Published 14 July, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/3655-6w65
Abstract
This work investigates the behavior of a spin-exchange relaxation-free magnetometer integrated into the feedback branch of a closed-loop control circuit, designed to realize a noise-suppressed current source. In this configuration, the magnetometer bandwidth is enhanced by almost 2 orders of magnitude as compared to the open-loop setup. Incorporating an injection transformer, the proposed system effectively reduces current noise to below over a broad frequency bandwidth, independent of dc-current offsets. Analysis of the system sensitivity reveals the performance to be currently limited by technical noise. If this were to be eliminated, the system would achieve a current-sensing sensitivity on the order of a few while maintaining perfect galvanic isolation from the target circuit.
Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)
Article Text
References (30)
- J. C. Allred, R. N. Lyman, T. W. Kornack, and M. V. Romalis, High-sensitivity atomic magnetometer unaffected by spin-exchange relaxation, Phys. Rev. Lett. 89, 130801 (2002).
- I. K. Kominis, T. W. Kornack, J. C. Allred, and M. V. Romalis, A subfemtotesla multichannel atomic magnetometer, Nature (London) 422, 596 (2003).
- M. P. Ledbetter, I. M. Savukov, V. M. Acosta, D. Budker, and M. V. Romalis, Spin-exchange-relaxation-free magnetometry with Cs vapor, Phys. Rev. A 77, 033408 (2008).
- J. Li, W. Quan, B. Zhou, Z. Wang, J. Lu, Z. Hu, G. Liu, and J. Fang, SERF atomic magnetometer–recent advances and applications: A review, IEEE Sens. J. 18, 8198 (2018).
- E. Boto et al., A new generation of magnetoencephalography: Room temperature measurements using optically-pumped magnetometers, NeuroImage 149, 404 (2017).
- F. Zheng et al., A compact triaxial SERF magnetometer with high sensitivity and 1.1 kHz bandwidth for magnetoencephalography, IEEE Sens. J. 24, 28722 (2024).
- Y. Yang, M. Xu, A. Liang, Y. Yin, X. Ma, Y. Gao, and X. Ning, A new wearable multichannel magnetocardiogram system with a SERF atomic magnetometer array, Sci. Rep. 11, 5564 (2021).
- S. Su et al., Vector magnetocardiography using compact optically-pumped magnetometers, Heliyon 10, e29092 (2024).
- M. J. Brookes, J. Leggett, M. Rea, R. M. Hill, N. Holmes, E. Boto, and R. Bowtell, Magnetoencephalography with optically pumped magnetometers (OPM-MEG): The next generation of functional neuroimaging, Trends Neurosci. 45, 621 (2022).
- P. A. Koss, A. R. Durmaz, A. Blug, G. Laskin, O. S. Pawar, K. Thiemann, A. Bertz, T. Straub, and C. Elsässer, Optically pumped magnetometer measuring fatigue-induced damage in steel, Appl. Sci. 12, 1329 (2022).
- K. Thiemann, A. Blug, P. Koss, A. Durmaz, G. Laskin, A. Bertz, F. Kühnemann, and T. Straub, Using optically pumped magnetometers to identify initial damage in bulk material during fatigue testing, in Proc. SPIE 12133, Quantum Technologies 2022 (SPIE, 2022), Vol. 12133, pp. 83–89.
- L. Shen, R. Zhang, T. Wu, X. Peng, S. Yu, J. Chen, and H. Guo, Suppression of current source noise with an atomic magnetometer, Rev. Sci. Instrum. 91, 084701 (2020).
- P. A. Koss, R. T. Dinani, L. Bienstman, G. Bison, and N. Severijns, Optical-magnetometry-based current source, Phys. Rev. Appl. 16, 014011 (2021).
- Q. Guo, T. Hu, C. Chen, X. Feng, Z. Wu, Y. Zhang, M. Zhang, Y. Chang, and X. Yang, A high sensitivity closed-loop spin-exchange relaxation-free atomic magnetometer with broad bandwidth, IEEE Sens. J. 21, 21425 (2021).
- L. Jia, X. Song, J. Li, Y. Suo, T. Long, Z. Wu, and X. Ning, Comprehensive analysis of the magnetic field closed-loop control system in SERF atomic magnetometer, Sens. Actuat. A 367, 115043 (2024).
- Z. Liu, J. Li, X. Li, Z. Wang, J. Sheng, and J. Lu, A performance-enhanced closed-loop SERF atomic magnetometer, IEEE Sens. J. 24, 36617 (2024).
- I. M. Savukov, Spin exchange relaxation free (SERF) magnetometers, in High Sensitivity Magnetometers, edited by A. Grosz, M. J. Haji-Sheikh, and S. C. Mukhopadhyay (Springer International Publishing, New York, 2017), pp. 451–491.
- S. Appelt, A. Ben-Amar Baranga, A. R. Young, and W. Happer, Light narrowing of rubidium magnetic-resonance lines in high-pressure optical-pumping cells, Phys. Rev. A 59, 2078 (1999).
- W. Happer and B. S. Mathur, Effective operator formalism in optical pumping, Phys. Rev. 163, 12 (1967).
- L. Keviczky, R. Bars, J. Hetthéssy, and C. Bányász, Control Engineering (Springer, Singapore, 2019).
- S. S. Bhattacharyya, E. F. Deprettere, R. Leupers, and J. Takala, Handbook of Signal Processing Systems (Springer, Cham, 2018).
- I. M. Savukov, S. J. Seltzer, M. V. Romalis, and K. L. Sauer, Tunable atomic magnetometer for detection of radio-frequency magnetic fields, Phys. Rev. Lett. 95, 063004 (2005).
- L. Ricci, M. Weidemüller, T. Esslinger, A. Hemmerich, C. Zimmermann, V. Vuletic, W. König, and T. W. Hänsch, A compact grating-stabilized diode laser system for atomic physics, Opt. Commun. 117, 541 (1995).
- G. C. Bjorklund, M. D. Levenson, W. Lenth, and C. Ortiz, Frequency modulation (FM) spectroscopy: Theory of lineshapes and signal-to-noise analysis, Appl. Phys. B 32, 145 (1983).
- C. B. Alcock, V. P. Itkin, and M. K. Horrigan, Vapour pressure equations for the metallic elements: 298–2500k, Can. Metall. Q. 23, 309 (1984).
- J. Zhao, G. Liu, J. Lu, K. Yang, D. Ma, B. Xing, B. Han, and M. Ding, A non-modulated triaxial magnetic field compensation method for spin-exchange relaxation-free magnetometer based on zero-field resonance, IEEE Access 7, 167557 (2019).
- J. G. Ziegler and N. B. Nichols, Optimum settings for automatic controllers, J. Fluids Eng. 64, 759 (1942).
- H.-A. Bachor and T. C. Ralph, A Guide to Experiments in Quantum Optics (John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, 2019).
- N.D. Bhaskar, J. Pietras, J. Camparo, W. Happer, and J. Liran, Spin destruction in collisions between cesium atoms, Phys. Rev. Lett. 44, 930 (1980).
- D. Djekic, M. Häberle, A. Mohamed, L. Baumgärtner, and J. Anders, A 440-kohm to 150-gohm tunable transimpedance amplifier based on multi-element pseudo-resistors, in ESSCIRC 2021-IEEE 47th European Solid State Circuits Conference (ESSCIRC) (IEEE, New York, 2021), pp. 403–406.