A dual‐isotope rubidium comagnetometer to search for anomalous long‐range spin‐mass (spin‐gravity) couplings of the proton. Issue 7 (16th May 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kimball, Derek F. Jackson; Lacey, Ian; Valdez, Julian; Swiatlowski, Jerlyn; Rios, Cesar; Peregrina‐Ramirez, Rodrigo; Montcrieffe, Caitlin; Kremer, Jackie; Dudley, Jordan; Sanchez, C.; Blaum, Klaus; Müller, Holger; Severijns, Nathal
• Is Part Of: Annalen der Physik. Volume 525:Issue 7(2013:Jul.)
• Page Start: 514
• Page End: 528
• Publication Date: 2013-05-16
• Subjects: Physics -- Periodicals; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 530.05
• DOI: 10.1002/andp.201300036
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-3804

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>The experimental concept of a search for a long‐range coupling between rubidium (Rb) nuclear spins and the mass of the Earth is described. The experiment is based on simultaneous measurement of the spin precession frequencies for overlapping ensembles of ⁸⁵Rb and ⁸⁷Rb atoms contained within an evacuated, antirelaxation‐coated vapor cell. Rubidium atoms are spin‐polarized in the presence of an applied magnetic field by synchronous optical pumping with circularly polarized laser light. Spin precession is probed by measuring optical rotation of far‐off‐resonant, linearly polarized laser light. Simultaneous measurement of ⁸⁵Rb and ⁸⁷Rb spin precession frequencies enables suppression of magnetic‐field‐related systematic effects. The nuclear structure of the Rb isotopes makes the experiment particularly sensitive to anomalous spin‐dependent interactions of the proton. Experimental sensitivity and a variety of systematic effects are discussed, and initial data are presented.</p> </abstract>