High-Precision Magnetic Field Vector Measurement Based on the Quantum Coherent Superposition States

The high precision measurement of magnetic field vector based on quantum coherent superposition states due to the interaction of the atomic system with linearly polarized light and magnetic field is described. The coordinate systems are physically orthogonal, which defined by the directions of light polarization and propagation. Because the quantum beat signals resulted by the coherent superposition states are no longer affected by nonlinear Zeeman shift, the measurement has smaller systematic error. The method is suitable for the measurements of vector fields such as the Earth's magnetic field.