Measurement with a deployable quantum magnetometer

使用可部署的量子磁力计进行测量

• 批准号: 2744832
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: University of Strathclyde
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Studentship
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2022 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=studentship-2744832
• 关键词: Measurement; deployable; quantum; magnetometer

Double-resonance optically pumped magnetometers (DR-OPMs) offer a powerful and flexible quantum sensing tool with applications in healthcare, geomagnetics, manufacturing and fundamental physics. The last decade has seen developments in the underpinning science and component microfabrication which result in greatly increased potential for impact in these real-world applications. OPMs now offer Femtotesla magnetic field resolution (part-per-billion sensitivity in Earth's field), a regime in which only cryogenic SQUID magnetometers offer comparable performance. However, compact, portable, cryogen-free OPMs can be used in many applications where the size and cost of SQUID magnetometers is prohibitive. OPMs will be applied to portable magneto-cardiography and magneto-encephalography for medical research and diagnosis, where their scalability and form factor unlock new capabilities for portable sensor arrays. In geomagnetic measurements the intrinsic calibration of OPM magnetometry against alkali atomic energy levels is a significant advantage over widely-used inductive magnetometers, offering calibration-free measurement for surveying, defence and navigation. OPMs can also be configured for resonant narrowband detection of oscillating magnetic fields in the sub-MHz band, benefiting from the system's frequency-invariant limiting quantum noise sources, rather than the classical Johnson-noise-limited inductive sensors widely used for these signals. This tuneable detection mode is a key technology for low-field hyperpolarised NMR in pharmaceutical and chemical manufacture. The sensitivity and accuracy of DR-OPMs also has important applications in networked fundamental physics searches for cosmological axions and domain walls. This project will focus on the development and demonstration of DR-OPM configurations tailored to maximise performance in specific applications. This will entail the development of sensor modes and control firmware in the laboratory, aiming to work at quantum-limited precision in an optimised test environment, leading on to sub-system optimisation and demonstration of field-ready prototypes in real-world applications. The development of techniques and system components in the lab will lead forward to the design and demonstration of field systems in collaboration with our network of end users. This work will build on our expertise in DR-OPM readout and feedback schemes and demonstrated capability in specialised subsystem design, including compact laser-optical systems and micro-fabricated alkali vapour cells. The combination of increasing subsystem performance and readiness with new techniques in DR-OPM operation, such as digital spin maser feedback schemes, places this research at a critical translational stage. Laboratory-based research developments now have potential for field application and rapid impact. Increasing end-user interest is driven by technology demonstration with increasingly high-performance devices. This project will exploit these opportunities, demonstrating and enhancing the impact of quantum sensors in magnetometry, and it will be an integral part of ongoing quantum technology development.

双共振光泵磁力计 (DR-OPM) 提供强大而灵活的量子传感工具，可应用于医疗保健、地磁、制造和基础物理领域。过去十年见证了基础科学和组件微加工的发展，这大大增加了对这些现实应用的影响潜力。 OPM 现在提供 Femtotesla 磁场分辨率（地球磁场中十亿分之一的灵敏度），只有低温 SQUID 磁力计才能提供类似的性能。然而，紧凑、便携式、无冷冻剂的 OPM 可用于许多 SQUID 磁力计的尺寸和成本令人望而却步的应用。 OPM 将应用于用于医学研究和诊断的便携式心磁图和脑磁图，其可扩展性和外形尺寸为便携式传感器阵列解锁了新功能。在地磁测量中，OPM 磁力计针对碱原子能级的内在校准比广泛使用的感应式磁力计具有显着优势，可为勘测、国防和导航提供免校准测量。 OPM 还可以配置为对 sub-MHz 频带内的振荡磁场进行谐振窄带检测，这得益于系统的频率不变限制量子噪声源，而不是广泛用于这些信号的经典约翰逊噪声限制感应传感器。这种可调谐检测模式是制药和化学品制造中低场超极化核磁共振的关键技术。 DR-OPM 的灵敏度和准确性在宇宙轴子和畴壁的网络基础物理搜索中也有重要的应用。该项目将重点开发和演示专门定制的 DR-OPM 配置，以最大限度地提高特定应用的性能。这将需要在实验室中开发传感器模式和控制固件，旨在在优化的测试环境中以量子极限精度工作，从而在实际应用中实现子系统优化和现场就绪原型的演示。实验室技术和系统组件的开发将导致与我们的最终用户网络合作进行现场系统的设计和演示。这项工作将建立在我们在 DR-OPM 读出和反馈方案方面的专业知识以及在专业子系统设计（包括紧凑型激光光学系统和微制造碱蒸气电池）方面展示的能力的基础上。不断提高的子系统性能和就绪性与 DR-OPM 操作中的新技术（例如数字自旋微波激射器反馈方案）相结合，使这项研究处于关键的转化阶段。基于实验室的研究进展现在具有现场应用和快速影响的潜力。越来越多的高性能设备的技术演示推动了最终用户兴趣的增加。该项目将利用这些机会，展示和增强量子传感器在磁力测量中的影响，并将成为正在进行的量子技术发展的一个组成部分。