Patent · US Active

Atomic magnetometer and method of sensing magnetic fields

US8334690B2 · kind B2 · utility

119Cited by

18References

20Claims

0Family size

Assignee

The United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary of Commerce National Institute of Standards and Technology · US

Inventors

John Kitching · Boulder, US
Svenja Knappe · Boulder, US
Jan Preusser · Boulder, US
Vladislav Gerginov · Braunschweig, DE

Key dates

Filing date	Aug 7, 2009
Grant date	Dec 18, 2012
Priority date	—
Expiry date	May 6, 2031

Classification

Technology area (CPC G)Physics
CPC primaryG01R33/26
WIPO fieldMeasurement
WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A magnetometer and method of use is presently disclosed. The magnetometer has at least one sensor void of extraneous metallic components, electrical contacts and electrically conducting pathways. The sensor contains an active material vapor, such as an alkali vapor, that alters at least one measurable parameter of light passing therethrough, when in a magnetic field. The sensor may have an absorptive material configured to absorb laser light and thereby activate or heat the active material vapor.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.