Apparatus for measuring magnetic field and associated methods

摘要

An apparatus 10 for measuring a magnetic field gradient comprises: a first module 12 and a second module 14, each module holding an atomic sample; a first magnetic field generator 16 to apply a first alternating magnetic field to the first atomic sample; a second magnetic field generator 18 configured to apply a second alternating magnetic field to the second atomic sample; a radiation source such as a laser 20 to transmit a beam of radiation through the first and second atomic samples, the beam of radiation configured to be resonant with a transition of the atomic sample; and a detection system 28 to separate a first component 30 from a second component 32 of the transmitted beam to identify of a property of the beam of radiation indicative of the magnetic field gradient between the first and second atomic samples. The property may be rotation of polarization due to the Faraday effect. The magnetometer may be used in magnetocardiography or archaeology. The atomic samples may be alkali metal vapour.