Measuring Transverse Relaxation with a Single-Beam 894 nm VCSEL for Cs-Xe NMR Gyroscope Miniaturization

The spin-exchange-pumped nuclear magnetic resonance gyroscope (NMRG) is a pivotal tool in quantum navigation. The transverse relaxation of atoms critically impacts the NMRG's performance parameters and is essential for judging normal operation. Conventional methods for measuring transverse relaxation typically use dual beams, which involves complex optical path and frequency stabilization systems, thereby complicating miniaturization and integration. This paper proposes a method to construct a ¹³³Cs parametric resonance magnetometer using a single-beam vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) to measure the transverse relaxation of ¹²⁹Xe and ¹³¹Xe. Based on this method, the volume of the gyroscope probe is significantly reduced to 50 cm³. Experimental results demonstrate that the constructed Cs-Xe NMRG can achieve a transverse relaxation time (<i>T</i>₂) of 8.1 s under static conditions. Within the cell temperature range of 70 °C to 110 °C, <i>T</i>₂ decreases with increasing temperature, while the signal amplitude inversely increases. The research lays the foundation for continuous measurement operations of miniaturized NMRGs.