Operating a non-Hermitian atomic magnetometer with programmable digital electronics

Non-Hermitian systems with exceptional points (EPs) have attracted much attention for their potential to increase measurement sensitivity. However, EPs are difficult to generate and control accurately in most physical systems, as these systems are extremely sensitive to environmental disturbances. We propose a unique non-Hermitian system formed by hybridizing digital electronics with physical sensors. The programmability of digital electronics allows EPs to be created, manipulated and applied easily and flexibly. More interestingly, the modular design of our system facilitates coupling with various physical sensors, increasing their linear response to an EP-enhanced sublinear response. By coupling digital electronics with an atomic magnetometer to form an EP-enhanced magnetometer, we achieved a 4.27-fold sensitivity increase for weak magnetic field measurements. Our work opens a new frontier at the junction of three active fields, namely, atomic physics, electronics, and non-Hermitian devices. The programmability, scalability, and practicality of our approach could further increase the universality, complexity, and intelligence of non-Hermitian fields.