Methods and Apparatus for Optically Detecting Magnetic Resonance

Magnetometers, which that detect and measure magnetic fields, are integral to various fields such as geology, archeology, and defense. The need for more accurate and high-resolution magnetometers has created constant demand for improvements and advancements in this technology. Traditional magnetometers, while capable, come with limitations in measurement precision and sensitivity. The drawbacks of current approaches include dependency on external power sources, sensitivity to temperature variations, and interference from nearby magnetic fields. These magnetometers' performance can also be impacted by background noise, leading to inaccurate readings. Overcoming these limitations, particularly the issues related to precision, interference, and calorimetry, has become a pressing issue in magnetometer technology.

Technology Description

The technology is a magnetometer featuring a crystal sensor embedded with solid-state defects capable of sensing the magnitude and directionality of a magnetic field. Notably, these defects absorb microwave and optical energy, allowing them to transition among several energy states and emit light intensities indicative of their spin states. Changes in the magnetic fields tweak these spin-state transitions subject to the defects' orientation relative to the field. What makes this magnetometer technology stand apart is the optical readout mechanism that reports the spin state of an ensemble of solid-state defects. This feature performs a lock-in on microwave signals to resonances linked to the spin-state transitions. Subsequent examination of the locked microwave signals' frequencies facilitates the reconstruction of the magnetic field vector. Consequently, this superior magnetometer technology promises reliable magnetic field data through its unique interaction with electromagnetic radiation.