Optical atomic magnetometer

US8587304B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Regents of the University of California · US

Inventors

• Dmitry Budker · Corona, US
• James Higbie · Catonsville, US
• Eric P. Corsini · Pechhofer Weg, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 4, 2008
• Grant date: Nov 19, 2013
• Expiry date: Mar 10, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01R33/26
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An optical atomic magnetometers is provided operating on the principles of nonlinear magneto-optical rotation. An atomic vapor is optically pumped using linearly polarized modulated light. The vapor is then probed using a non-modulated linearly polarized light beam. The resulting modulation in polarization angle of the probe light is detected and used in a feedback loop to induce self-oscillation at the resonant frequency.