Different sensitivities of two optical magnetometers realized in the same experimental arrangement

In this article, operation of optical magnetometers detecting static (DC) and oscillating (AC) magnetic fields is studied and comparison of the devices is performed. To facilitate the comparison, the analysis is carried out in the same experimental setup, exploiting nonlinear magneto-optical rotation. In such a system, a control over static-field magnitude or oscillating-field frequency provides detection of strength of the DC or AC fields. Polarization rotation is investigated for various light intensities and AC-field amplitudes, which allows to determine optimum sensitivity to both fields. With the results, we demonstrate that under optimal conditions the AC magnetometer is about ten times more sensitive than its DC counterpart, which originates from different response of the atoms to the fields. Bandwidth of the magnetometers is also analyzed, revealing its different dependence on the light power. Particularly, we demonstrate that bandwidth of the AC magnetometer can be significantly increased without strong deterioration of the magnetometer sensitivity. This behavior, combined with the ability to tune the resonance frequency of the AC magnetometer, provide means for ultra-sensitive measurements of the AC field in a broad but spectrally-limited range, where detrimental role of static-field instability is significantly reduced.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figure

Imaging of materials via the magnetic resonance in low magnetic fields

Praca magisterska stanowi kontynuację badań nad magnetycznym rezonansem jądrowym w niskich polach magnetycznych, które od 2017 roku prowadzone są w Zakładzie Fotoniki IF UJ. Zakres pracy obejmuje budowę układu doświadczalnego umożliwiającego pomiar magnetyzacji jądrowej z wykorzystaniem magnetometru optycznego oraz poszukiwania nowych materiałów, które z powodzeniem można będzie stosować w badaniach przy pomocy tego zjawiska. W szczególności, w tym ostatnim kontekście, rozważane są układy cząstek magnetycznych, które w oparciu o tzw. efekt wzmocnienia magnetycznego pozwoliłyby na pomiary odległości w skali nanometrów (od pojedynczych do setek nanometrów). Praca została podzielona na części. Po krótkim wstępie, który służy ogólnemu zarysowi badań, wprowadzeniu w tematykę eksperymentu oraz motywację dla powstania niniejszej pracy, czytelnik przechodzi do jej zasadniczej części. Przedstawiono w niej zagadnienia teoretyczne dotyczące magnetycznego rezonansu jądrowego, zawarto opis wykonania tego eksperymentu, w tym opis układu doświadczalnego oraz pomiar magnetyzacji jądrowej dla naczyńka z wodą destylowaną. Trzecia część skupia się na poszukiwaniu nanocząstek magnetycznych o odpowiednich właściwościach, m. in. parametrach, kształtach poprzez nadanie im charakterystyk, przy pomocy symulacji komputerowych. Pracę kończy krótkie podsumowanie.Nuclear magnetic resonance in low magnetic fields is becoming an alternative way to study intermolecular interactions. The first part of this master's thesis describes building an experimental system, its elements and operations in the NMR. The measure of nuclear polarization and magnetic field in distilled water has also been presented. The second part of this thesis includes the search of new examples of contrast agents which can be used in the NMR experiment - magnetic nanoparticles. With the assistance of computer simulations, particles with the best properties were chosen for further experiments in physics and chemistry laboratories

Occurrence of Borrelia sp. among Wild Living Invasive and Native Mesocarnivores in Poland

Wild living mesocarnivores, both introduced and native species, are able to adapt well to peri-urban environments, facilitating cross-species pathogen transmission with domestic animals, and potentially humans. Individual tissue samples derived from 284 specimens of six carnivore species, i.e., raccoon, raccoon dog, red fox, European badger, pine marten and stone marten, were used for molecular investigations with the nested PCR method. The animals were sampled in the Ruszów Forest District (Poland). We aimed to examine the relative importance of the studied mesocarnivores as hosts of Borrelia spp. and investigated their role in this spirochaete’s transmission cycle. We also aimed to trace the reservoir competence of these invasive and native predators and borreliosis eco-epidemiology in the context of a dilution effect. The overall prevalence of Borrelia spp. in the tested carnivores was 8.8%. Almost all of the consensus sequences of the partial flaB gene shared identity with a sequence of specific Borrelia species, i.e., B. afzelii, B. garinii and B. burgdorferi. Our results suggest that raccoons may play a role as reservoir hosts for these spirochaetal bacteria. The role of invasive species seems to be worthy of further analysis with reference to the circulation of vector-borne pathogens as well as in the context of the “dilution effect” hypothesis