Patent ID: 8334690

Claim:
A magnetometer comprising: at least one sensor comprising: an alkali material; an alkali vapor cell that is void of electrical contacts and void of electrically conducting pathways and configured to contain said alkali material and vapor of said alkali material and configured to heat said alkali material to a desired temperature with laser light, said alkali vapor cell comprising: at least one translucent or transparent wall configured to allow laser light to pass therethrough; at least one reflective, refractive or transmissive wall configured to reflect, refract or transmit at least a portion of laser light passing through said at least one translucent or transparent wall to a detector; a material configured to interact with laser light and thereby heat said alkali material to a desired temperature and evolve a sufficient amount of alkali vapor from said alkali material, within said alkali vapor cell; and said sufficient amount of alkali vapor being suitable to alter at least one measurable parameter of laser light in response to a magnetic field; said magnetometer further comprising: at least one laser configured to direct laser light into said alkali vapor cell through said at least one translucent or transparent wall; and a detector configured to receive laser light after passing through said alkali vapor.