Functionalized mm-scale vapor cells for alkali-metal spectroscopy and magnetometry

• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2405.10715
• Publication Date: 2024-05-17
• Authors: Harini Raghavan; Michael C. D. Tayler; Rachel Rae; K. Mouloudakis; Sami Lähteenmäki; Rasmus Zetter; Petteri Laine; Jacques Haesler; Laurent Balet; T. Overstolz; Sylvain Karlen; Morgan W. Mitchell
• Keywords: Atomic Physics (physics.atom-ph); FOS: Physical sciences; Physics - Atomic Physics

We describe micro-fabricated rubidium vapor cells with integrated temperature-control functionality and demonstrate their suitability for use in miniaturized ultra-sensitive magnetometers. These functionalized (FVCs) embody a dual-chamber design low-conductivity silicon anti-permeation coatings micro-structured thin-film platinum surface traces as resistive heaters temperature sensors. Thermal tests show our ability to control alkali metal distribution within the FVCs, ensuring clean sensing chamber optical measurements. Optical absorption spectroscopy is used correlate readings density measure buffer gas pressure, of interest optimizing sensitivity. Finally, we zero-field resonance magnetometry 18 fT/Hz$^{1/2}$ sensitivity 10 Hz 100 band, limited by laser noise magnetic shield noise, which indicates that functionalization does not introduce significant noise.