| 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. |
| Filed: 1/12/2010 |
| Application Number: 12/686109 |
| 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. |
| Attribution for Derwent World Patents Index Records published on Sandia ® Clarivate. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Clarivate content, including by framing or similar means, is prohibited without the prior written consent of Clarivate. Clarivate and its logo, as well as all other trademarks used herein are trademarks of their respective owners and used under license. |