Chip-scale atomic magnetometers
Physical Measurement Laboratory, Time and Frequency Division
NIST only participates in the February and August reviews.
Magnetometers based on the precession of atomic spins in a alkali atom vapor cell have recently reached sensitivities comparable to the best superconducting magneti sensors. In addition, they can be made compact and low-power through the use of laser pumping and silicon micromaching. This proejct develops compact magentic sensors than combine high sensitivity and accuracy with vector field readout and manufacturability. We design novel sensor instruments, test their performance and then use them in applications such as low-field nuclear magnetic resonance or deployment on space platforms.