SBIR Phase I: Atomic High Magnetic Field Probe

这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目专注于开发一种用于强磁场传感和测量的新探头技术。该技术利用一种基于原子的无电路场敏元件，为强场的绝对测量提供无电磁干扰的高速全光读出，直接解决与各种行业相关的现有技术中的能力差距。在电机和发电机的状态监测系统中进行故障检测具有广阔的商业潜力，在这些系统中，由于过度磁通或磁化等故障可能会导致重大损坏、昂贵的维修费用和生产停机。原子探头解决了旋转机械中用于早期故障检测的可靠、局部测量高达几特斯拉的磁场的需求，以及旋转机械中导电部件内部和周围的磁场。该技术还有望扩大实验室测量仪器的能力，并有助于实验强磁场科学，需要先进的仪器来进行1至100特斯拉范围的测量。国家科学院颇具影响力的报告(2004年和2013年)阐述了投资强磁场实验室所带来的非凡的科学研究和技术发展机遇。预计实地调查将有助于这一持续的、多学科的努力。该项目的智力价值包括研究和论证原子强磁场探头的关键部件和能力。创新之处在于一种全新的测量方法，该方法通过紧凑、无电路、全光学的传感元件，以高速和精确的速度提供对高达数十特斯拉的磁场的可靠、绝对标准(原子)测量和传感。探测器基于原子物理原理和量子光学现象进行操作，原子物理原理描述了原子在强磁场中的光谱反应，量子光学现象是实现原子光谱全光学读出的实用手段，从原子光谱中获得有关磁场的信息。在这个项目中，将开发、测试和改进强磁场中的理论原子光谱。将设计、制造和测试一种适用于传感强磁场的气室探头。将进行实验室实验，以测量原子对1特斯拉范围内的磁场的响应，灵敏度水平为ppm。该方法还将在时变和开关磁场中进行测试，时间尺度为100毫秒。将启动探头和读出单元的小型化，从而导致坚固、紧凑、实用的传感元件具有更高的操作速度和更好的性能特性。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is focused on developing a new probe technology for high magnetic field sensing and measurement. The technology utilizes a circuit-free, atom-based field sensing element that affords absolute measurements of strong fields with high-speed all-optical readout that is free of electromagnetic interference, directly addressing capability gaps in existing technologies relevant to a variety of industries. A broad commercial potential is in fault-detection in condition-monitoring systems for motors and generators, where faults due to occurrences such as over-fluxing or magnetization can lead to major damage, costly repairs and production downtime. The atomic probe addresses an unmet need for reliable, localized measurements up to several Tesla of magnetic field within and surrounding conductive components in rotating machines for early fault detection. The technology also promises to expand capabilities of laboratory measurement instrumentation and contribute to experimental high magnetic field science requiring advanced instrumentation for measurement in the 1 to 100 Tesla range. The extraordinary opportunities for scientific research and technological development represented by investment in high magnetic field laboratories were set out in influential reports of the National Academies of Science (2004 and 2013). The field probe is expected to contribute to this on-going, multi-disciplinary effort. The intellectual merit of this project includes the research and demonstration of key components and capabilities of an atomic high magnetic field probe. The innovation lies in a fundamentally new measurement approach that provides robust, absolute-standard (atomic) measurement and sensing of magnetic fields up to tens of Tesla at high speed and precision with a compact, circuit-free, all-optical sensing element. The probe operates based on atomic physics principles that describe the spectroscopic response of atoms in strong magnetic fields, and quantum-optics phenomena that serve as a practical means to achieve all-optical readout of the atomic spectra, from which information on the magnetic field is obtained. During this project, theoretical atomic spectra in strong magnetic fields will be developed, tested and refined. A vapor-cell probe suitable for sensing strong magnetic fields will be designed, fabricated, and tested. Laboratory experiments will be performed to measure the atomic response to magnetic fields in the range of 1 Tesla at ppm sensitivity levels. The method will also be tested in time-varying and switching magnetic fields, on timescales of 100ms. Miniaturization of probes and read-out units will be initiated, leading towards robust and compact, practical sensing elements with higher operation speed and improved performance characteristics.