| 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. |