21 research outputs found
Optical Magnetometry
Some of the most sensitive methods of measuring magnetic fields utilize
interactions of resonant light with atomic vapor. Recent developments in this
vibrant field are improving magnetometers in many traditional areas such as
measurement of geomagnetic anomalies and magnetic fields in space, and are
opening the door to new ones, including, dynamical measurements of bio-magnetic
fields, detection of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), magnetic-resonance
imaging (MRI), inertial-rotation sensing, magnetic microscopy with cold atoms,
and tests of fundamental symmetries of Nature.Comment: 11 pages; 4 figures; submitted to Nature Physic
High-sensitivity diamond magnetometer with nanoscale resolution
We present a novel approach to the detection of weak magnetic fields that
takes advantage of recently developed techniques for the coherent control of
solid-state electron spin quantum bits. Specifically, we investigate a magnetic
sensor based on Nitrogen-Vacancy centers in room-temperature diamond. We
discuss two important applications of this technique: a nanoscale magnetometer
that could potentially detect precession of single nuclear spins and an optical
magnetic field imager combining spatial resolution ranging from micrometers to
millimeters with a sensitivity approaching few femtotesla/Hz.Comment: 29 pages, 4 figure
Atomic transition frequencies, isotope shifts, and sensitivity to variation of the fine structure constant for studies of quasar absorption spectra
Theories unifying gravity with other interactions suggest spatial and
temporal variation of fundamental "constants" in the Universe. A change in the
fine structure constant, alpha, could be detected via shifts in the frequencies
of atomic transitions in quasar absorption systems. Recent studies using 140
absorption systems from the Keck telescope and 153 from the Very Large
Telescope, suggest that alpha varies spatially. That is, in one direction on
the sky alpha seems to have been smaller at the time of absorption, while in
the opposite direction it seems to have been larger.
To continue this study we need accurate laboratory measurements of atomic
transition frequencies. The aim of this paper is to provide a compilation of
transitions of importance to the search for alpha variation. They are E1
transitions to the ground state in several different atoms and ions, with
wavelengths ranging from around 900 - 6000 A, and require an accuracy of better
than 10^{-4} A. We discuss isotope shift measurements that are needed in order
to resolve systematic effects in the study. The coefficients of sensitivity to
alpha-variation (q) are also presented.Comment: Includes updated version of the "alpha line" lis