Abstract

An integrated optically-controlled sensor, suitable for remote, high-sensitivity detection of magnetic fields is presented. The sensor head is free of electrical currents or metal parts, which largely eliminates any spurious fields created by the sensor itself. We demonstrate the operation of the sensor both in earth field in a Bell-Bloom type configuration [1] as well as in a spin-exchange relaxation-free mode (SERF) and reach sensitivities better than 500 fT/√Hz at 10 Hz.

© 2009 IEEE