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

Joint Conference of the European Frequency and Time Forum and IEEE International Frequency Control Symposium (EFTF/IFCS)

A microfabricated photonic magnetometer

Jan Preusser, Svenja A. Knappe, John E. Kitching, Vladislav P. Gerginov

Published Apr 1, 2009• 20 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We present initial measurements of an atomic magnetometer in which the microfabricated sensor head is coupled to the control system by optical fibers. Because there are no electrical connections, the sensor head is largely non-magnetic, and degradation of the magnetometer performance due to internal magnetic fields is avoided. The sensor head is fabricated by use of methods derived from micro-electromechanical (MEMS) systems and integrated with off-the-shelf micro-optical components. Light is coupled through fibers to and from the sensor head for interrogation of the atoms as well as temperature stabilization of the vapor cell.

DOI
10.1109/freq.2009.5168385

Related papers

A microfabricated photonic magnetometer

Jan Preusser, Svenja A. Knappe, Vladislav P. Gerginov +1 more

An integrated optically-controlled sensor, suitable for remote, high-sensitivity detection of magnetic fields is presented. The operation of the sensor both in earth field in a Bell-Bloom type configuration is demonstrated as well as in a spin-exchange relaxation-free mode (SERF) and reach sensitivities better than 500 fT/radicHz at 10 Hz. The design and initial measurements of a small atomic magnetometer that has no electrical connections near the sensor head is presented. The sensor is fabricated by use of methods derived from microelectromechanical (MEMS) systems and integrated with off-the-shelf micro-optical components. Light is coupled through fibers to and from the sensor head for interrogation of the atoms. Heating of the atomic vapor is achieved by a second fiber-coupled laser source, utilizing the absorption properties of the vapor cell.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Europe & European Quantum Electronics Conference (CLEO/Europe-EQEC)•Jun 1, 2009•10 citations

A low-power, high-sensitivity micromachined optical magnetometer

Rahul R. Mhaskar, Svenja A. Knappe, John E. Kitching

We demonstrate an optical magnetometer based on a microfabricated 87Rb vapor cell in a micromachined silicon sensor head. The alkali atom density in the vapor cell is increased by heating the cell with light brought to the sensor through an optical fiber, and absorbed by colored filters attached to the cell windows. A second fiber-optically coupled beam optically pumps and interrogates the atoms. The magnetometer operates on 140 mW of heating power and achieves a sensitivity below 20 fT/√Hz throughout most of the frequency band from 15 Hz to 100 Hz. Such a sensor can measure magnetic fields from the human heart and brain.

Applied Physics Letters•Dec 10, 2012•172 citations

Optoelectronic Integration with Improved Sensitivity for Microfabricated Optical Magnetometers

Yu Ji, Jintang Shang, Lei Wu +1 more

Micro-fabricated optical magnetometers as the most sensitive magnetic field sensors play a significant role in a variety of areas ranging from health care and nuclear magnetic resonance to fundamental atomic physics research and remote monitoring. Optoelectronic integration is the main barrier for the performance of the micro-fabricated optical magnetometer. In this study, by using micro alkali vapor cell with spherical structure, a novel optoelectronic integration approach with improved sensitivity for micro-fabricated optical magnetometers has been investigated. Firstly, the manufacturing process of the micro alkali vapor cell with spherical structure is presented. Secondly, the optical path length and the buffer gas pressure of the prepared micro alkali cell have been characterized through one optical frequency-locking system. In the end, optoelectronic integration for the micro-fabricated optical magnetometers has been investigated in this study. Results indicate that the micro alkali cell with spherical structure has a greatly improved optical path length and owns the nitrogen buffer gas at the pressure of 2.25amg. Results also show that by using the micro alkali vapor cell with spherical structure, the novel optoelectronic integration approach has greatly improved signal to noise ratio(S/N) and sensitivity for the micro-fabricated optical magnetometers.

IEEE Electronic Components and Technology Conference (ECTC)•May 1, 2016•0 citations

A microfabricated photonic magnetometer

Jan Preusser, Vladislav P. Gerginov, Svenja A. Knappe +1 more

An integrated optically-controlled sensor, suitable for remote, high-sensitivity detection of magnetic fields, is presented. The sensor head is free of electrical currents or metal parts, which largely eliminates any spurious fields created by the sensor itself. We demonstrate the operation of the sensor by employing a scheme first published by Bell and Bloom and reach a sensitivity of 2.6 pT/Hz1/2at 30 Hz, limited primarily by the photon shot noise of the detector.

Proceedings of IEEE Sensors/Proceedings of IEEE Sensors ...•Oct 1, 2008•16 citations

Microfabricated Spin Polarized Atomic Magnetometers

Ricardo Jiménez-Martínez

Spin polarized atomic magnetometers involve the preparation of atomic spins and their detection for monitoring magnetic fields. Due to the fact that magnetic fields are ubiquitous in our world, spin polarized atomic magnetometers are used in a wide range of applications from the detection of magnetic fields generated by the human heart and brain to the detection of nuclear magnetic resonance. In this thesis we developed microfabricated spin polarized atomic magnetometers. These sensors are based on optical pumping and spin-exchange collisions between alkali atoms and noble gases contained in microfabricated millimeter-scale vapor cells. In the first part of the thesis, we improved different features of current microfabricated optical magnetometers. Specifically, we improved the bandwidth of these devices, without degrading their magnetic field sensitivity, by broadening their magnetic resonance through spin-exchange collisions between alkali atoms. We also implemented all-optical excitation techniques to avoid problems, such as the magnetic perturbation of the environment, induced by the radio-frequency fields used in some of these sensors. In the second part of the thesis we demonstrated a microfluidic chip for the optical production and detection of hyperpolarized Xe gas through spin-exchange collisions with optically pumped Rb atoms. These devices are critical for the widespread use of spin polarized atomic magnetometers in applications requiring simple, compact, low-cost, and portable instrumentation.

•Jan 1, 2013•2 citations

Integration of the SERF Magnetometer and the Mz Magnetometer Using Micro-Fabricated Alkali Vapor Cell

Jin Zhang, Jintang Shang, Guoliang Li +4 more

With the continuous improvement of weak magnetic detection technology, there has been a growing trend towards more compact and integrated magnetometer. The SERF magnetometer and the Mz magnetometer have many common features in operation. Therefore, we design a new kind of miniaturized atomic sensors to integrate the SERF magnetometer and the Mz magnetometer based on micro-fabricated alkali vapor cell. The sensor structure consists of alkali vapor cell, three-axis magnetic field coils, heating module and optical module. This small size sensor has the potential to achieve a portable multi-function device.

IEEE Electronic Components and Technology Conference (ECTC)•May 1, 2018•1 citation
We present initial measurements of an atomic magnetometer in which the microfabricated sensor head is coupled to the control system by optical fibers. Because there are no electrical connections, the sensor head is largely non-magnetic, and degradation of the magnetometer performance due to internal magnetic fields is avoided. The sensor head is fabricated by use of methods derived from micro-electromechanical (MEMS) systems and integrated with off-the-shelf micro-optical components. Light is coupled through fibers to and from the sensor head for interrogation of the atoms as well as temperature stabilization of the vapor cell.
An integrated optically-controlled sensor, suitable for remote, high-sensitivity detection of magnetic fields is presented. The operation of the sensor both in earth field in a Bell-Bloom type configuration is demonstrated as well as in a spin-exchange relaxation-free mode (SERF) and reach sensitivities better than 500 fT/radicHz at 10 Hz. The design and initial measurements of a small atomic magnetometer that has no electrical connections near the sensor head is presented. The sensor is fabricated by use of methods derived from microelectromechanical (MEMS) systems and integrated with off-the-shelf micro-optical components. Light is coupled through fibers to and from the sensor head for interrogation of the atoms. Heating of the atomic vapor is achieved by a second fiber-coupled laser source, utilizing the absorption properties of the vapor cell.
We demonstrate an optical magnetometer based on a microfabricated 87Rb vapor cell in a micromachined silicon sensor head. The alkali atom density in the vapor cell is increased by heating the cell with light brought to the sensor through an optical fiber, and absorbed by colored filters attached to the cell windows. A second fiber-optically coupled beam optically pumps and interrogates the atoms. The magnetometer operates on 140 mW of heating power and achieves a sensitivity below 20 fT/√Hz throughout most of the frequency band from 15 Hz to 100 Hz. Such a sensor can measure magnetic fields from the human heart and brain.
Micro-fabricated optical magnetometers as the most sensitive magnetic field sensors play a significant role in a variety of areas ranging from health care and nuclear magnetic resonance to fundamental atomic physics research and remote monitoring. Optoelectronic integration is the main barrier for the performance of the micro-fabricated optical magnetometer. In this study, by using micro alkali vapor cell with spherical structure, a novel optoelectronic integration approach with improved sensitivity for micro-fabricated optical magnetometers has been investigated. Firstly, the manufacturing process of the micro alkali vapor cell with spherical structure is presented. Secondly, the optical path length and the buffer gas pressure of the prepared micro alkali cell have been characterized through one optical frequency-locking system. In the end, optoelectronic integration for the micro-fabricated optical magnetometers has been investigated in this study. Results indicate that the micro alkali cell with spherical structure has a greatly improved optical path length and owns the nitrogen buffer gas at the pressure of 2.25amg. Results also show that by using the micro alkali vapor cell with spherical structure, the novel optoelectronic integration approach has greatly improved signal to noise ratio(S/N) and sensitivity for the micro-fabricated optical magnetometers.
Spin polarized atomic magnetometers involve the preparation of atomic spins and their detection for monitoring magnetic fields. Due to the fact that magnetic fields are ubiquitous in our world, spin polarized atomic magnetometers are used in a wide range of applications from the detection of magnetic fields generated by the human heart and brain to the detection of nuclear magnetic resonance. In this thesis we developed microfabricated spin polarized atomic magnetometers. These sensors are based on optical pumping and spin-exchange collisions between alkali atoms and noble gases contained in microfabricated millimeter-scale vapor cells. In the first part of the thesis, we improved different features of current microfabricated optical magnetometers. Specifically, we improved the bandwidth of these devices, without degrading their magnetic field sensitivity, by broadening their magnetic resonance through spin-exchange collisions between alkali atoms. We also implemented all-optical excitation techniques to avoid problems, such as the magnetic perturbation of the environment, induced by the radio-frequency fields used in some of these sensors. In the second part of the thesis we demonstrated a microfluidic chip for the optical production and detection of hyperpolarized Xe gas through spin-exchange collisions with optically pumped Rb atoms. These devices are critical for the widespread use of spin polarized atomic magnetometers in applications requiring simple, compact, low-cost, and portable instrumentation.
With the continuous improvement of weak magnetic detection technology, there has been a growing trend towards more compact and integrated magnetometer. The SERF magnetometer and the Mz magnetometer have many common features in operation. Therefore, we design a new kind of miniaturized atomic sensors to integrate the SERF magnetometer and the Mz magnetometer based on micro-fabricated alkali vapor cell. The sensor structure consists of alkali vapor cell, three-axis magnetic field coils, heating module and optical module. This small size sensor has the potential to achieve a portable multi-function device.