Small, Low Power, High Performance Magnetometers

Recent work by Geometrics, along with partners at the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and Sandia National Laboratories, has shown the feasibility of producing total field magnetometers the size of a grain of rice (0.1cc) and consuming less than 100mW of power. This work has generated a great deal of interest, since it promises to greatly increase the types and number of applications for which magnetometers may be used. This paper will present recent progress towards commercializing such Micro-Fabricated Atomic Magnetometers (MFAM), along with several applications where they may be used. We will first present some background in the use and operation of magnetometer sensors and their principles of operation. Then we will introduce our recent work, and present the results of performance measurements. Next, we will identify the design and performance issues that may be addressed, as well as the range of commercial products that are being developed. Finally, exciting<br>applications made possible by this new technology will be discussed.