Differential behavior of magnetic field and magnetic vector potential in an optically pumped Rb atomic magnetometer

Although vector potentials are more intrinsic physical quantities than magnetic and electric fields, measuring them macroscopically is difficult. A double-nested Helmholtz-type vector potential coil, consisting of an elongated solenoid coil wound around a cylinder, and producing a uniform magnetic vector potential, was developed in this study. The coil is carefully designed to reduce the influence of the leakage magnetic field and the scalar potential generated by the coil’s electrical resistance on the measurement. It has the ability to toggle between vector potential and magnetic field generation. We adapted the coil for use in an optically pumped atomic magnetometer. We also developed an optically pumping Rb atomic magnetometer that can calibrate in a zero magnetic field and applied a time-varying magnetic vector potential. We found that the output signal changed with the vector potential even when there was virtually no magnetic field. With increasing frequency, the output voltage decreases for the magnetic signal and increases for the magnetic vector potential signal. The results revealed that the atomic magnetometer is influenced not only by the magnetic field but also by the magnetic vector potential and that the frequency responses are opposite.