Noise reduction in optically pumped magnetometer assemblies

In most magnetic field measurement configurations the resolution of optically pumped magnetometers is limited by the shot noise of the pump light. However, in practice this noise limit is overwhelmed by other sources. One of them is the conversion of the pump laser’s frequency modulation (FM) noise to amplitude modulation (AM) noise due to the absorption in the magnetometer’s alkali vapour cell. This extra noise can be nearly completely cancelled by the illumination of an additional cell with the same laser light and the subtraction of its photo current from that of the measurement cell. The correlation of the photo signals of different cells is just slightly decreased by the applied measurement and rf fields B ₀ and B ₁, respectively. As a result, in real magnetic field measurements using the photo-current subtraction, a noise-limited magnetic field resolution of just twice the shot-noise limit can be achieved. This is experimentally shown for the most thrifty setup with two cells; one time using the second cell just for the photo-current subtraction, the other time also serving for magnetic field measurements, forming a gradiometer with the first cell. Yet, the photo-current subtraction method is most appealing for magnetometer arrays, where the photo signal of just one additional vapour cell can be used for the noise reduction of the complete array.     

利用高温超导直流量子干涉器件进行10$lt;sup$gt;-6$lt;/sup$gt; T量级磁场下核磁共振的研究

研究了水样品在10^-6 T量级磁场下的核磁共振谱.核磁共振信号由一个工作在液氮温度的高温超导直流量子干涉仪记录,测量在一个简易磁屏蔽室中进行.在7—70 μT的磁场范围内都观察到了15 ml水样品的核磁共振信号.相应的^1H的核磁共振频率为300—3000 Hz.在实验中获取的单次测量信噪比约为4,通过对信号的100次平均,信噪比可达到约40.进一步讨论了剩余磁场、预极化时间和采样时间对结果的影响.最后用数字滤波之后平均的方法初步得到了时域的自由感应衰减信号. 关键词： 超导量子干涉仪 核磁共振     

Influence of DC bias fields on the linear/nonlinear magnetoelectric effect and the sensitivity in laminate composites

The nonlinear and linear properties in Metglas/piezofiber magnetoelectric composites under DC bias fields (H_bias) have been investigated via a frequency‐conversion technique. It was found that the major noise near the carrier frequency (f_C) is caused by the driven source. Both linear ME coefficient and noise floor near f_C (bandwidth of noise measurement is 10 Hz) were dependent on H_bias, while the nonlinear ME coefficient was independent. A high magnetic‐field sensitivity of 40 pT was obtained after optimizing H_bias. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

无序二维约瑟夫森结阵列中磁场引起的涡旋玻璃态相变

采用电阻阻错结的无序二维约瑟夫森结阵列模型,数值研究超导薄膜中垂直磁场引起的涡旋运动.通过分析磁场激发产生的涡旋度Ne及低频电压噪声S₀的变化特性,得到如下结论：在无序超导体中固定温度不变,随着磁场的减弱涡旋液态经过准有序的布拉格相,涡旋玻璃相重新进入到低磁场下的钉扎稀磁液相. 由于在涡旋玻璃相中,电流驱动下的噪声值表现出一个峰,表明系统处于无序与有序相互竞争的亚稳态,并且临界电流应有峰值效应. 计算得到噪声值的变化与Okuma等得到的无序超导Mo_xSi_1-x膜实验现象一致,并能解释磁场降低引起的重新进入钉扎的稀磁液相行为. 关键词： 约瑟夫森结阵列 磁通玻璃 重新进入 峰值效应     

Sondenmessung der Plasmaparameter und deren Fluktuation in Argon-Niederdruck-Schwachstrom-Säulen im transversalen Magnetfeld

This paper reports on measurements of probe noise and double probe characteristics in argon-low-pressure low-current discharges under the influence of a local transversal magnetic field. Above a critical value of magnetic field intensity B_c there are no moving striations but partially correlated fluctuations. The space distribution of probe noise (ion saturation current and floating potential) and the measured values of electron temperature and density are discussed. At B_c a characteristic value of electron temperature T_e,c ≈ 1,4 eV independent of filling pressure has been found. A first opinion on the character of the fluctuations is given.     

SQUID法和Campbell法测量超导材料的研究

本文对比研究了超导材料磁测量中的SQUID法和Campbell法; 并用高压PIT法制备的超导材料MgB₂作为测量样品,用两种方法,测量了超导样品的临界电流密度, 分别得到了样品的J_c-B关系曲线; SQUID法测量样品的外磁场可以达到6 T, 此时材料已经处于失超状态,此方法测得的结果是样品各个小区域结果的平均值, SQUID还可以用来进一步标度材料的钉扎力行为,研究材料磁特性. Campbell法测量只能测量到外磁场强度为0.4 T,外磁场的交流部分的频率可以达到800 Hz, 用这种测量方法得到的是整块样品的电流,由于测量计及材料内部微观结构缺陷等影响电流传输因素, 所测结果小于直流磁化法,但更切近材料实际电流,能用来深入研究材料内部结构差别对材料电性能的影响.     

Resonant paramagnetic enhancement of the thermal and zero-point Nyquist noise

The interaction between a very thin macroscopic solenoid, and a single magnetic particle precessing in a external magnetic field B₀, is described by taking into account the thermal and the zero-point fluctuations of stochastic electrodynamics. The inductor belongs to a RLC circuit without batteries and the random motion of the magnetic dipole generates in the solenoid a fluctuating current I_dip(t), and a fluctuating voltage ε_dip(t), with spectral distribution quite different from the Nyquist noise. We show that the mean square value 〈I_dip²〉 presents an enormous variation when the frequency of precession approaches the frequency of the circuit, but it is still much smaller than the Nyquist current in the circuit. However, we also show that 〈I_dip²〉 can reach measurable values if the inductor is interacting with a macroscopic sample of magnetic particles (atoms or nuclei) which are close enough to its coils.     

Shot noises of spin and charge currents in a ferromagnet-quantum-dot-ferromagnet system

We have investigated the shot noises of charge and spin current by considering the spin polarized electron tunneling through a ferromagnet-quantum-dot-ferromagnet system. We have derived the spin polarized current noise matrix, from which we can derive general expressions of shot noises associated with charge and spin currents. The spin and charge currents are intimately related to the polarization angles, and they behave quite differently from each other. The shot noise of charge current is symmetric about the gate voltage whose structure is modified by the Zeeman field considerably. There exists oscillations in spin current shot noise in the absence of source-drain bias at zero temperature, and it is asymmetric in the positive and negative regimes of sourcedrain voltage. The shot noise of spin current behaves quite differently from the shot noise of charge current, since the spin current components I _x ^s , I _y ^s oscillate sinusoidally with the frequency ω_γ in the γth lead, while the I _z ^s component of spin current is independent of time.      

Delayed demagnetization jumps in (NdDy)(FeCo)B magnets in a steady-state magnetic field

Spontaneous demagnetization jumps are observed in sintered magnets (Nd_0.6Dy_0.4)₁₆(Fe_0.77Co_0.23)₇₈B₆ in a constant magnetic field after a sharp decrease in an external magnetic field from the value corresponding to the saturation to a value close to the coercive force. It is shown that the number of the magnetization jumps is proportional to their amplitudes. A low value of the autocorrelation coefficient between the jump amplitude and the time of its appearance (R < 0.1) demonstrate the stochasticity of the jumps. It is found that the spectral jump density is independent of the frequency, i.e., a white magnetic noise is observed. The distribution of the magnetic field gradient has been obtained near the sample surface that makes it possible to distinguish domains and the grain magnetization in the dependence on the direction of the texturing of the sintered magnet.

     

垂直场下磁性薄膜中的铁磁共振现象

将铁磁共振频率看成外磁场的函数, 讨论了垂直场下磁性膜中的铁磁共振现象. 结果显示: 当外磁场平行于膜面, 并考虑磁膜具有垂直磁晶各向异性情形时, 其磁共振频率随外磁场的变化分为高频支和低频支两种情况, 具体的依赖关系取决于磁膜内磁晶的各向异性; 当外磁场垂直于膜面, 其磁共振频率随外磁场的关系仅存在一支, 一般地, 磁共振频率随外磁场的增加单调地非线性减小, 但当立方磁晶各向异性场H_k1 与单轴磁晶各向异性场H_a之比值介于2/3 < H_k1/H_a <1时, 其磁共振频率随外磁场的增加单调增加, 这与相关的实验结果一致. 研究结果表明: 磁薄膜中有无垂直于膜面的磁各向异性可以通过其磁共振谱的测量进行辨析.     

Arrays of interacting ferromagnetic nanofilaments: Small-angle neutron diffraction study

Magnetic properties of spatially ordered arrays of interacting nanofilaments have been studied by means of small-angle diffraction of polarized neutrons. Several diffraction maxima or rings that correspond to the scattering of the highly ordered structure of pores/filaments with hexagonal packing have been observed in neutron scattering intensity maps. The interference (nuclear-magnetic) and pure magnetic contributions to the scattering have been analyzed during the magnetic reversal of the nanofilament array in a field applied perpendicular to the nanofilament axis. The average magnetization and the interference contribution proportional to it increase with the field and are saturated at H = H _S . The magnetic reversal process occurs almost without hysteresis. The intensity of the magnetic contribution has hysteresis behavior in the magnetic reversal process for both the positive and negative fields that form the field dependence of the intensity in a butterfly shape. It has been shown that this dependence is due to the magnetostatic interaction between the filaments in the field range of H ≤ H _S . A theory for describing the magnetic properties of the arrays of interacting ferromagnetic nanofilaments in the magnetic field has been proposed.     

YBaCuO BICRYSTAL JUNCTIONS AND DC SUPERCONDUCTING QUANTUM INTERFERENCE DEVICES

We have prepared yttria-stabilized-zirconia bicrystal substrates using a simple hot-pressing method. The grain-boundary junctions have been fabricated with YBa₂Cu₃O₇ thin films grown epitaxially on the bicrystals. The patterns are defined by conventional photolithography, The dc and microwave characteristics of the junctiorts and the dc superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) have been intensively studied. The current-voltage curves are bridge-typed with noise rounding near the critical current. Resistive tail has been observed in the resistance versus temperature curves. The results are compared with the theoretical prediction for classical Josephson junctions. It is found that the behavior of bicrystal junctions can be described in the frame of classical theory. The deviations are attributed to the nonuniformity of the junctions. The small loop dc SQUIDs demonstrate diffraction and interference effects with regard to the applied magnetic field. A large square-washer with a new configuration has been designed to enhance the effective area of dc SQUID as a magnetometer. It has achieved a magnetic field resolution down to 1 pT/(Hz)^1/2(at 10Hz) at 77K.     

The Gravitational Waves from Test Particles around Black Holes Immersed in a Strong Magnetic Field

In this paper, we calculate the gravitational waveform from free test particles around Schwarzschild black holes immersed in a uniform strong magnetic field. By comparing with the cases of the Schwarzschild black holes, we find that for stable circle orbits, magnetic field can amplify amplitude and frequency of gravitational waves (here after GWs). For other general orbits, the uniform magnetic field also can amplify amplitude of GWs, enhance energy radiation of GWs and make it to shift to higher frequency. Another obvious influence of magnetic field B is that it can change the form of h _× component of GWs.     

Breakdown of the linear current regime in periodic structures

We study the effect of a weak nonlinearity in media on the linear regime of current flow in two-dimensional periodic structures with two equal component concentrations. We find that the asymptotic behavior of the electric field and current as functions of the distance between the angles in heterogeneous media is determined by the parameter h=σ ₂/σ ₁ (here σ ₁ and σ ₂ are the linear conductivities of the cells) and the external magnetic field B. This dependence leads to divergence of the higher-order moments of field and current at certain critical values h _c and B _c and to divergence of the response functions related to the higher-order moments. For square cells the effective nonlinear conductivity diverges at h⩽h _c, with . For structures of general shape we find the dependence of h _c on the angles and the external magnetic field. We show that for a given structure the linear regime of current flow in the system can be reversibly transformed into a nonlinear one by varying the magnetic field strength. The critical field B _c is approximately determined from the condition ω _c τ∼1, where ω _c and τ ⁻¹ are, respectively, the cyclotron frequency and the collision rate. Finally, we discuss the feasibility of detecting these effects experimentally. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 112, 643–660 (August 1997)     

Alternating magneto-birefringence of ionic ferrofluids in crossed fields

A dynamic probing of magnetic liquids is performed experimentally, using a static magnetic field modulated by another smaller field, normal and alternating. The optical magneto-birefringence under these crossed magnetic fields is recorded as a function of the frequency for different field intensities and different sizes of the magnetic nanoparticles. A general reduced behavior is found for the in-phase and the out-of-phase optical response which is well-described by a simple mechanical model. Depending on the value H _ani of the anisotropy field of the nanoparticles, we can distinguish two different high magnetic field regimes: - a rigid dipole regime (large anisotropy energy with respect to k _B T) for cobalt ferrite nanoparticles with a relaxation time inversely proportional to the field intensity H _C(H _C < H _ani), - a soft dipole regime (anisotropy energy of the order of k _B T) for maghemite nanoparticles with a relaxation time independent of the field intensity H _C(H _C > H _ani). Received 5 June 2000 and Received in final form 8 January 2001     

Return current instability and its effects on beam-plasma system

The return current induced in a plasma by a relativisitc electron beam generates a new electron-ion two-stream instability (return current instability). Although the effect of these currents on the beam-plasma e-e instability is negligible, there exists a range of wave numbers which is unstable only to return current (RC) instability and not to e-e instability. The electromagnetic waves propagating along the direction of the external magnetic field, in which the plasma is immersed, are stabilized by these currents but the e.m. waves with frequencies,ω ²≪Ω _e ² ≪ω _pe ² (Ω _e andω _pe being cyclotron and plasma frequency for the electrons of the plasma respectively) propagating transverse to the magnetic field get destabilized. Heuristic estimates of plasma heating, due to RC instability and due to decay of ion-acoustic turbulence generated by the return current, are made. The fastest time scale on which the return current delivers energy to the plasma due to the scattering of ion-sound waves by the electrons can be ∼ω _pi ⁻¹ (ω _pi being the plasma frequency for the ions).     

Influence of the transport current on the magnetoelectric properties of La0.7Pb0.3MnO3 single crystals with giant magnetoresistance in the microwave region

The results of experiment on the influence of a direct current and a low-frequency alternating current, as well as a magnetic field, on the microwave-range conductivity σ _MW of Ln_0.7Pb_0.3MnO₃ single crystals with giant magnetoresistance are presented. The greatest sensitivity of the samples toward the effects of a current is observed in the temperature range corresponding to the dc magnetoresistance maximum. The response signal of a sample in the microwave range to the effects of an alternating current of a low frequency f ₀ has a nonlinear character. As f ₀ is varied in a magnetic field, the amplitude of the response signal varies with the appearance of resonance peaks. The results obtained are interpreted within an approach based on the coexistence of two phases having different conductivities in the doped manganite crystals. This two-phase interpretation is supported by data from magneticresonance investigations, which demonstrate the existence of two magnetic phases over a broad temperature range in Ln_0.7Pb_0.3MnO₃ single crystals. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 41, 2007–2015 (November 1999)     

Equivalent magnetic noise in magnetoelectric Metglas/Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3‐PbTiO3 laminate composites

We have experimentally and theoretically investigated the equivalent magnetic noise in a magnetoelectric Metglas/ 0.7Pb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃‐0.3PbTiO₃ laminate sensor unit by considering the constituent noise sources of dielectric loss (N_DE) and DC leakage resistance (N_R). In the low frequency range (f = 1 Hz), theory predicts that N_R dominates the noise charge (1.6 times larger than N_DE), with a 1 Hz noise of 9.1\;{\rm pt}/\sqrt {\rm Hz}. The experimental equivalent magnetic noise was 10.8\;{\rm pt}/\sqrt {\rm Hz}. This observed value is slightly higher than the predicted one, which might be due to an oversimplification of the theoretical model in terms of electrical charge amplifier and external vibration noise sources. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Charge density wave transport in NbSe<Subscript>3</Subscript> at low temperatures under high magnetic field

Charge density wave (CDW) depinning and sliding regimes have been studied in NbSe₃ at low temperatures down to 1.5 K under magnetic field of 19 T oriented along the c-axis. We found that the threshold field for CDW depinning becomes temperature independent below T ₀ ≈ 15 K. Also CDW current to frequency ratio characterizing CDW sliding regime increases by factor 1.7 below this temperature. The results are discussed as a crossover from thermal fluctuation to tunneling CDW depinning at T < T ₀. Besides, we found that CDW sliding strongly suppresses the amplitude of Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations of magnetoresistance.     

Nonmonotonic behavior of magnetoresistance, R(H) hysteresis, and low-temperature heat capacity of the BaPb0.75Bi0.25O3 superconductor in a magnetic field: Possible manifestations of phase separation

The transport properties (R(T) and R(H) dependences at various values of the transport current in magnetic fields up to 65 kOe) and low-temperature heat capacity in magnetic fields up to 90 kOe of the BaPb_0.75Bi_0.25O₃ superconductor (T _C ≈ 11.3 K) are investigated with the goal of clarifying the mechanisms determining the nonmonotonic behavior and hysteresis of its magnetoresistance R(H). The type of R(H) hysteretic dependences for BaPb_0.75Bi_0.25O₃ is analogous to that observed in granular high-T _c superconductors (HTSCs); however, unlike classical HTSC systems, the field width of the magnetoresistance hysteresis loop for polycrystalline BaPb_0.75Bi_0.25O₃ depends on the transport current. This means that although the mechanisms responsible for the magnetoresistance hysteresis (the influence of the magnetic flux trapped in superconducting regions on the effective field in Josephson interlayers) are identical in these objects, the transport current in BaPb_0.75Bi_0.25O₃ may considerably affect the diamagnetic response of the superconductor. A considerable effect of transport current on the field in which the R(H) dependences have a peak and exhibit hysterestic properties is observed. Such a behavior can be adequately interpreted using the model of the spatially inhomogeneous superconductor-insulator state proposed by Gorbatsevich et al. [JETP Lett. 52, 95 (1990)]. The nonmonotonic dependence of quantity C/T (C is the heat capacity) on the magnetic field discovered in the present study also agrees with the conclusions based on this model.