Magnetic induction imaging with a cold-atom radio frequency magnetometer

摘要

The sensitive detection of either static or radio frequency (RF) magnetic fields is essential to many fundamental studies and applications. Here, we demonstrate the operation of a cold-atom-based RF magnetometer in performing 1D and 2D imaging of small metallic objects. It is based on a cold ~(85)Rb atomic sample and operates in an unshielded environment with no active field stabilization. It shows a sensitivity up to 200 pT/(Hz)~(1/2) in the 5 - 35 kHz bandwidth range and can resolve a 0.4 mm wide cut in a 0.8 mm thick metallic foil. The characteristics of our system make it ` good candidate for applications in civil and industrial surveillance.