Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:2304.00214 · Nature Communications

Pulsed vector atomic magnetometer using an alternating fast-rotating field

Tao Wang, Wonjae Lee, Mark E. Limes, Thomas W. Kornack, Elizabeth Foley, Michael V. Romalis

Published Feb 5, 2025• 29 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Abstract We introduce a vector atomic magnetometer that employs a fast-rotating magnetic field applied to a pulsed 87Rb scalar atomic magnetometer. This approach enables simultaneous measurements of the total magnetic field and its two polar angles relative to the rotation plane. Operating in gradiometer mode, the magnetometer achieves a total field gradient sensitivity of 35 $${{{\rm{fT}}}}/\sqrt{{{{\rm{Hz}}}}}$$ fT / Hz (0.7 parts per billion) and angular resolutions of 6 $${{{\rm{nrad}}}}/\sqrt{{{{\rm{Hz}}}}}$$ nrad / Hz at a 50 μT Earth field strength. The noise spectra remain flat down to 1 Hz and 0.1 Hz, respectively. Here we show that this method overcomes several metrological challenges commonly faced by vector magnetometers and gradiometers. We propose a unique peak-altering modulation technique to mitigate systematic effects, including a newly identified dynamic heading error. Additionally, we establish the fundamental sensitivity limits of the sensor, demonstrating that its vector sensitivity approaches scalar sensitivity while preserving the inherent accuracy and calibration benefits of scalar sensors. This high-dynamic-range, ultrahigh-resolution magnetometer offers exceptional versatility for diverse applications.

DOI
10.1038/s41467-025-56668-2

Related papers

All-optical vector atomic magnetometer

E. Zhivun, Brian Patton, Chris Hovde +1 more

We demonstrate an all-optical magnetometer capable of measuring the magnitude and direction of a magnetic field using nonlinear magneto-optical rotation in a cesium vapor. Vector capability is added by effective modulation of the field along orthogonal axes and subsequent demodulation of the magnetic-resonance frequency. This modulation is provided by the AC Stark shift induced by circularly polarized laser beams. The sensor exhibits a demonstrated rms noise floor of 50 fT/ √ Hz in measurement of the field magnitude and 0.5 mrad/ √ Hz in the field direction; elimination of technical noise would improve these sensitivities to 12 fT/ √ Hz and 5 μrad/ √ Hz, respectively. Applications for a precise all-optical vector magnetometer would include magnetically sensitive fundamental physics experiments, such as the search for a permanent electric dipole moment of the neutron.

Bulletin of the American Physical Society•Jun 5, 2014•21 citations

All-optical intrinsic atomic gradiometer with sub-20 fT/cm/√Hz sensitivity in a 22 µT earth-scale magnetic field

Abigail R. Perry, Michael Bulatowicz, M. Larsen +2 more

In this work we demonstrate a high sensitivity atomic gradiometer capable of operation in earth-field level environments. We apply a light-pulse sequence at four times the Larmor frequency to achieve gradiometer sensitivity <20 fT/cm/ H z at the finite field strength of 22 µT. The experimental timing sequence can be tuned to the field magnitude of interest. Our all-optical scalar gradiometer performs a differential measurement between two regions of a single vapor cell on a 4 cm baseline. Our results pave the way for extensions to operation in higher dimensions, vector sensitivity, and more advanced gradiometers.

arXiv:2008.13234•Optics Express•Nov 10, 2020•38 citations

Stable vector magnetometers based on electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT)

Ying-Ju Wang

Magnetic sensors are widely used in many applications including medical diagnostics, geomagnetic survey, etc. Scalar atomic magnetometers that have demonstrated sensitivity at and below fT/ Hz^1/2 level can be adapted to include measurement of magnetic field orientation but usually at the cost of accuracy and with limitation of dynamic range. Magnetometry using electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) instead was used to provide both scalar accuracy and vector information with angle resolution at a level of 10-3 deg/Hz^1/2. We present a scheme for EIT vector magnetic field measurement with the common-mode drift suppression by probing multiple EIT resonances. The demonstrated sensitivity is stable to < 200 pT/ Hz^1/2 at 1 mHz.

Optical and Quantum Sensing and Precision Metrology II•Mar 13, 2024•0 citations

Vector Atomic Magnetometer with Free Induction Decay Detection Based on a Microfabricated Vapor Cell

Pengbo Jiang, Qi Li, Jianan Qin +1 more

Atomic magnetometers are highly sensitive instruments widely used for measurements of weak magnetic field. Extracting vector information while maintaining high-precision scalar detection has become the trend in atomic magnetometer development. We introduce a vector atomic magnetometer containing a 5 mm-thick microfabricated vapor cell operating in free-induction-decay mode. By employing orthogonal modulation techniques, the system achieves high-precision in-plane vector magnetic field measurements. The high-precision vector magnetic field measurements are demonstrated in the x–z plane. The sensitivity of the total field detection in the miniaturized atomic magnetometer is 30 pT·Hz−1/2 @11 µT. The average angular error of the decoupled measurement is as low as 4.7 mrad @7.6 µT for vector magnetic fields, providing a new approach for vector magnetic field measurement in miniaturized atomic magnetometers.

Micromachines•Dec 30, 2024•2 citations

On the Development of an Optical Rubidium Vector Atomic Magnetometer

James McKelvy, Irina V. Novikova, Eugeniy E. Mikhailov +6 more

The precise measurement of magnetic fields is a fundamental tool of remote sensing. However, accurately measuring the direction of magnetic fields is challenging with atomic magnetometers. In this work, we discuss progress on the development of an all-optical vector atomic magnetometer that uses electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) on87Rb vapor. The magnitude of the magnetic field is evaluated by measuring the separation of the laser transmission peaks of the Zeeman-resolved EIT spectra, and the direction is measured by evaluating the relative peak contrast using a lightweight machine learning algorithm involving principal component analysis (PCA). We have demonstrated a scalar sensitivity of $ < 10pT/\sqrt {Hz} $ in the 1–100 Hz band and an angular accuracy of < 1°. This approach for vector magnetometry does not require an array of sensors or calibration coils, ultimately setting the groundwork for the design of a new magnetometer that is lighter and more accurate than conventional vector magnetometer configurations.

IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS)•Jul 16, 2023•2 citations

High-sensitivity closed-loop three-axis atomic magnetometer using two elliptically polarized laser beams

Yeguang Yan, Jixi Lu, Kun Wang +5 more

The high-sensitivity three-axis detection of magnetic fields is widely used in various applications.Our study demonstrates an atomic magnetometer detecting vector magnetic field, of which the core components are one glass cell and two elliptically polarized laser beams.The light-intensity noise is suppressed by differential detection technology, so a higher sensitivity is obtained compared with our previous work.The three-axis average sensitivities of the atomic magnetometer simultaneously reached 14 fT/Hz 1/2 along the x axis, 11 fT/Hz 1/2 along the y axis, and 25 fT/Hz 1/2 along the z axis.Furthermore, the atomic magnetometer's dynamic range was further improved to 150 nT, and its bandwidth was increased to over 200 Hz using a closed-loop control system.The proposed three-axis atomic magnetometer with a large dynamic range and a wide bandwidth holds great promise for biomagnetic measurement in a more challenging environment.

Chinese Optics Letters•Jan 1, 2024•1 citation
Abstract We introduce a vector atomic magnetometer that employs a fast-rotating magnetic field applied to a pulsed 87Rb scalar atomic magnetometer. This approach enables simultaneous measurements of the total magnetic field and its two polar angles relative to the rotation plane. Operating in gradiometer mode, the magnetometer achieves a total field gradient sensitivity of 35 fT/Hz{{{\rm{fT}}}}/\sqrt{{{{\rm{Hz}}}}}fT/Hz​ fT / Hz (0.7 parts per billion) and angular resolutions of 6 nrad/Hz{{{\rm{nrad}}}}/\sqrt{{{{\rm{Hz}}}}}nrad/Hz​ nrad / Hz at a 50 μT Earth field strength. The noise spectra remain flat down to 1 Hz and 0.1 Hz, respectively. Here we show that this method overcomes several metrological challenges commonly faced by vector magnetometers and gradiometers. We propose a unique peak-altering modulation technique to mitigate systematic effects, including a newly identified dynamic heading error. Additionally, we establish the fundamental sensitivity limits of the sensor, demonstrating that its vector sensitivity approaches scalar sensitivity while preserving the inherent accuracy and calibration benefits of scalar sensors. This high-dynamic-range, ultrahigh-resolution magnetometer offers exceptional versatility for diverse applications.
We demonstrate an all-optical magnetometer capable of measuring the magnitude and direction of a magnetic field using nonlinear magneto-optical rotation in a cesium vapor. Vector capability is added by effective modulation of the field along orthogonal axes and subsequent demodulation of the magnetic-resonance frequency. This modulation is provided by the AC Stark shift induced by circularly polarized laser beams. The sensor exhibits a demonstrated rms noise floor of 50 fT/ √ Hz in measurement of the field magnitude and 0.5 mrad/ √ Hz in the field direction; elimination of technical noise would improve these sensitivities to 12 fT/ √ Hz and 5 μrad/ √ Hz, respectively. Applications for a precise all-optical vector magnetometer would include magnetically sensitive fundamental physics experiments, such as the search for a permanent electric dipole moment of the neutron.
In this work we demonstrate a high sensitivity atomic gradiometer capable of operation in earth-field level environments. We apply a light-pulse sequence at four times the Larmor frequency to achieve gradiometer sensitivity <20 fT/cm/ H z at the finite field strength of 22 µT. The experimental timing sequence can be tuned to the field magnitude of interest. Our all-optical scalar gradiometer performs a differential measurement between two regions of a single vapor cell on a 4 cm baseline. Our results pave the way for extensions to operation in higher dimensions, vector sensitivity, and more advanced gradiometers.
Magnetic sensors are widely used in many applications including medical diagnostics, geomagnetic survey, etc. Scalar atomic magnetometers that have demonstrated sensitivity at and below fT/ Hz^1/2 level can be adapted to include measurement of magnetic field orientation but usually at the cost of accuracy and with limitation of dynamic range. Magnetometry using electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) instead was used to provide both scalar accuracy and vector information with angle resolution at a level of 10-3 deg/Hz^1/2. We present a scheme for EIT vector magnetic field measurement with the common-mode drift suppression by probing multiple EIT resonances. The demonstrated sensitivity is stable to < 200 pT/ Hz^1/2 at 1 mHz.
Atomic magnetometers are highly sensitive instruments widely used for measurements of weak magnetic field. Extracting vector information while maintaining high-precision scalar detection has become the trend in atomic magnetometer development. We introduce a vector atomic magnetometer containing a 5 mm-thick microfabricated vapor cell operating in free-induction-decay mode. By employing orthogonal modulation techniques, the system achieves high-precision in-plane vector magnetic field measurements. The high-precision vector magnetic field measurements are demonstrated in the x–z plane. The sensitivity of the total field detection in the miniaturized atomic magnetometer is 30 pT·Hz−1/2 @11 µT. The average angular error of the decoupled measurement is as low as 4.7 mrad @7.6 µT for vector magnetic fields, providing a new approach for vector magnetic field measurement in miniaturized atomic magnetometers.
The precise measurement of magnetic fields is a fundamental tool of remote sensing. However, accurately measuring the direction of magnetic fields is challenging with atomic magnetometers. In this work, we discuss progress on the development of an all-optical vector atomic magnetometer that uses electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) on87Rb vapor. The magnitude of the magnetic field is evaluated by measuring the separation of the laser transmission peaks of the Zeeman-resolved EIT spectra, and the direction is measured by evaluating the relative peak contrast using a lightweight machine learning algorithm involving principal component analysis (PCA). We have demonstrated a scalar sensitivity of $ < 10pT/\sqrt {Hz} $ in the 1–100 Hz band and an angular accuracy of < 1°. This approach for vector magnetometry does not require an array of sensors or calibration coils, ultimately setting the groundwork for the design of a new magnetometer that is lighter and more accurate than conventional vector magnetometer configurations.
The high-sensitivity three-axis detection of magnetic fields is widely used in various applications.Our study demonstrates an atomic magnetometer detecting vector magnetic field, of which the core components are one glass cell and two elliptically polarized laser beams.The light-intensity noise is suppressed by differential detection technology, so a higher sensitivity is obtained compared with our previous work.The three-axis average sensitivities of the atomic magnetometer simultaneously reached 14 fT/Hz 1/2 along the x axis, 11 fT/Hz 1/2 along the y axis, and 25 fT/Hz 1/2 along the z axis.Furthermore, the atomic magnetometer's dynamic range was further improved to 150 nT, and its bandwidth was increased to over 200 Hz using a closed-loop control system.The proposed three-axis atomic magnetometer with a large dynamic range and a wide bandwidth holds great promise for biomagnetic measurement in a more challenging environment.