Atomic magnetometer
US8212556B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 12, 2010 |
| Grant date | Jul 3, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 3, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01R33/26
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
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.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.