Researchers at NIST have developed miniaturized atomic magnetometers that can be integrated onto microchips. These devices leverage the quantum properties of atoms to measure magnetic fields with high sensitivity, stability, and accuracy.
The key innovations include:
– Chip-scale atomic magnetometers that are smaller than a postage stamp
– Ability to measure both scalar (absolute) and vector (directional) magnetic fields
– No need for cryogenic cooling like traditional SQUID sensors
– Reduced power consumption for space applications
Potential applications include:
– Magnetic anomaly detection
– Nuclear magnetic resonance
– Biomagnetic measurements
The technology builds on earlier work in chip-scale atomic clocks and has been successfully demonstrated in flight. Current research focuses on further miniaturization and integration with other quantum sensors.
Source: https://www.nist.gov/programs-projects/microfabricated-atomic-sensors
Keywords: Magnetometer, Atomic Physics, Microfabrication, Magnetometry, Larmor Frequency
