Atomic magnetometer
| DWPI Title: Atomic magnetometer for sensing magnetic field, has photo detector that detects and generates probe light beam from electrical signal based upon change in polarization of probe light beam due to magnetic field |
| Abstract: An atomic magnetometer is disclosed which uses a pump light beam at a D1 or D2 transition of an alkali metal vapor to magnetically polarize the vapor in a heated cell, and a probe light beam at a different D2 or D1 transition to sense the magnetic field via a polarization rotation of the probe light beam. The pump and probe light beams are both directed along substantially the same optical path through an optical waveplate and through the heated cell to an optical filter which blocks the pump light beam while transmitting the probe light beam to one or more photodetectors which generate electrical signals to sense the magnetic field. The optical waveplate functions as a quarter waveplate to circularly polarize the pump light beam, and as a half waveplate to maintain the probe light beam linearly polarized. |
| Use: Atomic magnetometer for sensing magnetic field. |
| Advantage: The sensitivity of the atomic magnetometer can be improved. The magnetic coils can be used to cancel a background magnetic field, or to modulate the magnetic field within the cell to improve a signal-to-noise ratio for detecting the magnetic field effectively. The air convection currents in the optical path can be prevented to reduce noise frequency. The discomfort or injury to the patient can be prevented effectively. |
| Novelty: The magnetometer has a pump / probe light beams (18,28) that include wavelengths equal to wavelength of D-line atomic transitions of alkali metal vapor (14), respectively. The pump /probe light beams is directed through optical wave plate, respectively. Optical filter is located in a path of pump/probe light beams. A photo detector (40) is used to detect probe light beam after transmission through optical filter and to generate probe light beam from electrical signal based upon change in polarization of probe light beam due to magnetic field. |
| Filed: 1/12/2010 |
| Application Number: US2010686109A |
| Tech ID: SD 11375.0 |
| This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. DE-NA0003525 awarded by the United States Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration. The Government has certain rights in the invention. |
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