Patent ID: 8941377
Filing Date: 2015-01-27
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
1. An optically pumped magnetometer acquiring an information as to strengths of magnetic fields in different two directions comprising: a cell including a group of alkali metal atoms; a pump light optical system configured to direct a pump light containing a circularly polarized component incident in the cell; a first probe light optical system configured to direct a first probe light containing a linearly polarized component so as to cross the pump light within the cell; a second probe light optical system configured to direct a second probe light containing a linearly polarized component so as to cross the pump light and the first probe light within the cell; a first detector configured to detect a rotation angle of the plane of polarization of the first probe light after passing through the cell; a second detector configured to detect a rotation angle of the plane of polarization of the second probe light after passing through the cell; a magnetic field applying unit configured to apply a static magnetic field within the cell; and a calculating unit configured to calculate the information as to the strengths of magnetic fields in the different two directions respectively vertical to the direction of the static magnetic field applied by the magnetic field applying unit within the cell, based on the rotation angle detected by the first detector and the rotation angle detected by the second detector.