Optical and spin-coherence properties of rubidium atoms trapped in solid neon

TL;DR

This paper investigates the optical and spin-coherence properties of rubidium atoms in solid neon, demonstrating their potential for quantum sensing and NMR detection of neon isotopes.

Contribution

It provides new measurements of spin coherence and optical control of rubidium in solid neon, advancing quantum sensor applications.

Findings

Rubidium atoms exhibit measurable spin coherence in solid neon.

Successful optical control and measurement of atomic spin states.

Detection of Ne-21 NMR signals using trapped rubidium atoms.

Abstract

In this work, we measure the properties of ensembles of rubidium atoms trapped in solid neon that are relevant for use as quantum sensors of magnetic fields: the spin coherence of the trapped atoms and the ability to optically control and measure their spin state. We use the rubidium atoms as an AC magnetometer (by employing an appropriate dynamical decoupling sequence) and demonstrate NMR detection of Ne-21 atoms co-trapped in the neon matrix.