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arXiv · 0910.2206

Ultra-high sensitivity magnetic field and magnetization measurements with an atomic magnetometer

H. B. Dang·A. C. Maloof·M. V. Romalis
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Abstract

We describe an ultra-sensitive atomic magnetometer using optically-pumped potassium atoms operating in spin-exchange relaxation free (SERF) regime. We demonstrate magnetic field sensitivity of 160 aT/Hz$^{1/2}$ in a gradiometer arrangement with a measurement volume of 0.45 cm$^3$ and energy resolution per unit time of $44 \hbar$. As an example of a new application enabled by such a magnetometer we describe measurements of weak remnant rock magnetization as a function of temperature with a sensitivity on the order of 10$^{-10}$ emu/cm$^3$/Hz$^{1/2}$ and temperatures up to 420$^\circ$C.

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H. B. Dang, A. C. Maloof, M. V. Romalis. 2009-10-12. Ultra-high sensitivity magnetic field and magnetization measurements with an atomic magnetometer. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3491215

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