Time dependent spin-dressing using a $^3$He atomic beam

Abstract

We have performed high precision experimental measurements of spin precession using a dressed $^3$He atomic beam. Spin-dressing uses an oscillating magnetic field detuned to high frequency which is orthogonal to a static magnetic field to effectively change the gyromagnetic ratio of a spin. We verify the validity of the spin-dressing Hamiltonian in regions beyond the limiting solution in which the Larmor frequency is much smaller than the frequency of the dressing field. We also evaluate the effect of magnetic field misalignment, e.g. if the oscillating magnetic field is not orthogonal to the static magnetic field. Modulation of the dressing field parameters is also discussed, with a focus on whether such a modulation can be approximated merely as a time dependent, dressed gyromagnetic ratio. Furthermore, we discuss implications for a proposed search for the neutron electric dipole moment, which would employ spin-dressing to make the effective $^3$He and neutron magnetic moments equal.