EAGER: Dense micro array of atomic spin-polarized detectors for subfemtatesla level resolution of magnetic field gradient

目的：本项目的目标是探索一种在10平方厘米的形状因素下，以小于1飞特斯拉的分辨率和小于10微米的定位误差检测磁场的方法，包括大小和方向。提出的方法是基于实现密集排列的玻璃微尺度电池阵列。每个电池的直径为100微米，里面充满了铷的同位素和缓冲气体。电池在相同的衬底上间隔100微米，每个电池都充当高精度的全光原子磁力计。智力优势：本项目将研究用于测量磁场强度的核自旋进动和用于测量磁场梯度的磁力计的空间分布。与squid相反，拟议中的原子磁梯度仪不需要低温冷却，也不需要任何移动的机械部件。通过测量核自旋进动频率在弱磁场下的明显变化，可以实现高性能的磁强计。更广泛的影响：高灵敏度、小尺寸和易于使用的磁力计可以在各个领域产生变革性影响，包括生物和生物医学工程、地质和矿产/石油勘探，以及监视和防御（通过墙壁/地下成像和目标跟踪）。所提出的微型设备提供的小尺寸和便利性可以导致大脑测绘的重大进展，并使先进的便携式大脑监测设备的开发成为可能。这种技术以手持设备的形式供个人使用，将彻底改变个人保健、按需诊断和慢性疾病自我监测等方面的情况。最显著的贡献将是在生物磁学领域，即检测由人类大脑、心脏和其他器官产生的弱磁场。这项研究将推进创新传感概念、信号处理和系统级实现领域的科学知识。这个高度跨学科的项目还将通过团队合作为本科生和研究生（包括代表性不足的）学生提供独特的教育体验。

Objective: The goal of this project is to explore an approach for detection of magnetic field, both magnitude and directionality, with less than 1 femto-Tesla resolution and better than 10 microns location error in a 10 square centimeter form-factor. The proposed approach is based on implementation of a densely packed array of glass micro-scale cells. Each cell is a hundred micron in diameter and is filled with isotopes of rubidium and buffer gasses. Cells are equally spaced on the same substrate, a hundred micron apart, and each cell acts as a highly precise all-optical atomic magnetometer.Intellectual Merit: This project will investigate the precession of nuclear spins as the measure of magnetic field magnitude and spatial distribution of magnetometers as a measure of magnetic field gradient. Contrary to SQUIDs, the proposed atomic magnetic gradiometer will not require cryogenic cooling and will not have any moving mechanical parts. A high-performance magnetometry can potentially be achieved by measuring the apparent change of the precession frequency of nuclear spins in response to a weak magnetic field.Broader Impact: Highly sensitive, small size, and easy to use magnetometers can have transformative effects in various areas including biology and biomedical engineering, geology and mineral/oil exploration, as well as surveillance and defense (through wall/underground imaging and target tracking). Small size and convenience offered by the proposed microscale devices can lead to significant advances in brain mapping and enable development of advanced portable brain monitoring devices. The accessibility of such technology for personal use in the form factor of hand-held devices will revolutionize, for example, personal health-care, on-demand diagnostic, and self-monitoring of chronic deceases. The most noticeable contribution will be in the area of biomagnetism, that is, the detection of the weak magnetic fields produced by the human brain, heart, and other organs. This research will advance scientific knowledge in the areas of innovative sensing concepts, signal processing, and system-level implementation. This highly multidisciplinary project will also provide unique educational experience for undergraduate and graduate (including underrepresented) students through team collaborations.