Atomic magnetometers for health & security

在高偏置场中感应的磁共振信号的情况下，生物磁信号覆盖从接近零到射频的频率范围。就可测量的信号而言，它们的范围从约1 fT（大脑）到100 pT Hz-1/2（心脏）。NPL已经开发了一种原子磁力计的配置，其能够在宽频率范围内以fT Hz-1/2灵敏度测量磁场，而无需基于SQUID的商业系统所需的低温。总体目标是开发一种新颖的，商业上有吸引力的，用于测量生物磁信号的系统在一些关键的，临床上重要的，应用。工作的第一部分将包括矢量磁场测量方法的研究。第二部分将包括对多渠道运作的探索。第三部分研究了提高传感器性能的量子增强技术。

Biomagnetic signals cover the frequency range from near zero to radio frequencies in the case of magnetic resonance signal induced in high bias fields. In terms of the measurable signals they range from about 1 fT (brain) to 100 pT Hz-1/2 (heart). NPL has developed a configuration of atomic magnetometer that enables measurements of the magnetic field with fT Hz-1/2 sensitivity over a wide frequency range without cryogenics required for commercial system based on SQUIDs. The overall aim is to develop a novel, commercially attractive, system for measuring biomagnetic signals in a number of key, clinically important, applications.The first part of the work will include studies of the methods for vector magnetic field measurement. The second part will encompass exploration of the multichannel operation. The third part involves studies of the quantum-enhanced techniques ofr improvement of sensor performance.