IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v16y2025i1d10.1038_s41467-025-56668-2.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Pulsed vector atomic magnetometer using an alternating fast-rotating field

Author

Listed:
  • Tao Wang

    (Princeton University
    Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR))

  • Wonjae Lee

    (Princeton University
    Harvard University)

  • Mark Limes

    (300 Deer Creek Dr.
    Blacksburg)

  • Thomas Kornack

    (300 Deer Creek Dr.)

  • Elizabeth Foley

    (300 Deer Creek Dr.)

  • Michael Romalis

    (Princeton University)

Abstract

We introduce a vector atomic magnetometer that employs a fast-rotating magnetic field applied to a pulsed 87Rb scalar atomic magnetometer. This approach enables simultaneous measurements of the total magnetic field and its two polar angles relative to the rotation plane. Operating in gradiometer mode, the magnetometer achieves a total field gradient sensitivity of 35 $${{{\rm{fT}}}}/\sqrt{{{{\rm{Hz}}}}}$$ fT / Hz (0.7 parts per billion) and angular resolutions of 6 $${{{\rm{nrad}}}}/\sqrt{{{{\rm{Hz}}}}}$$ nrad / Hz at a 50 μT Earth field strength. The noise spectra remain flat down to 1 Hz and 0.1 Hz, respectively. Here we show that this method overcomes several metrological challenges commonly faced by vector magnetometers and gradiometers. We propose a unique peak-altering modulation technique to mitigate systematic effects, including a newly identified dynamic heading error. Additionally, we establish the fundamental sensitivity limits of the sensor, demonstrating that its vector sensitivity approaches scalar sensitivity while preserving the inherent accuracy and calibration benefits of scalar sensors. This high-dynamic-range, ultrahigh-resolution magnetometer offers exceptional versatility for diverse applications.

Suggested Citation

  • Tao Wang & Wonjae Lee & Mark Limes & Thomas Kornack & Elizabeth Foley & Michael Romalis, 2025. "Pulsed vector atomic magnetometer using an alternating fast-rotating field," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-56668-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56668-2
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-56668-2
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41467-025-56668-2?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. I. K. Kominis & T. W. Kornack & J. C. Allred & M. V. Romalis, 2003. "A subfemtotesla multichannel atomic magnetometer," Nature, Nature, vol. 422(6932), pages 596-599, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Itay M. Bloch & Roy Shaham & Yonit Hochberg & Eric Kuflik & Tomer Volansky & Or Katz, 2023. "Constraints on axion-like dark matter from a SERF comagnetometer," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    2. Chen Zhang & Durga Dasari & Matthias Widmann & Jonas Meinel & Vadim Vorobyov & Polina Kapitanova & Elizaveta Nenasheva & Kazuo Nakamura & Hitoshi Sumiya & Shinobu Onoda & Junichi Isoya & Jörg Wrachtru, 2022. "Quantum-assisted distortion-free audio signal sensing," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Min Jiang & Taizhou Hong & Dongdong Hu & Yifan Chen & Fengwei Yang & Tao Hu & Xiaodong Yang & Jing Shu & Yue Zhao & Xinhua Peng & Jiangfeng Du, 2024. "Long-baseline quantum sensor network as dark matter haloscope," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-7, December.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-56668-2. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.