Combining Micro-Nanotechnology with Atomic Spin Devices

Abstract

In recent year, the sensitivities of atomic spin devices are improved greatly with the realization of spin exchange relaxation free (SERF) regime. Usually the SERF regime is realized using orthogonal beams scheme, i.e. one pump beam to polarize the atoms and the other orthogonal probe beam to measure the polarization. Due to the requirement of four optical windows for the atomic vapor cell, the orthogonal beams scheme has difficulties for micro fabrication. In this paper, we research a new scheme for SERF realization using only one beam, which facilitates the micro fabrication greatly. Furthermore, the fabrication processes of the MEMS atomic vapor cell with two out-of-plane optical windows are designed and performed. In the end, the possibility of increasing the relaxation time by nanotechnology is discussed.