Government of the United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary of Commerce

Eleanor Hodby

Andrei M Shkel

John Kitching

Erik Jesper Eklund

Elizabeth Ann Donley

An atomic magnetometer that simultaneously achieves high sensitivity, simple fabrication and small size. This design is based on a diverging (or converging) beam of light that passes through an alkali atom vapor cell and that contains a distribution of beam propagation vectors. The existence of more than one propagation direction permits longitudinal optical pumping of atomic system and simultaneous detection of the transverse atomic polarization. The design could be implemented with a micro machined alkali vapor cell and light from a single semiconductor laser. A small modification to the cell contents and excitation geometry allows for use as a gyroscope.

Growing community of inventors

Boulder, CO, United States of America

Eleanor Hodby