Compact Diode Laser Based Magnetometer

The proposed Small Business Innovative Research Phase I project will combine ultra-sensitive absorption spectroscopy detection techniques and alkali atom optical gas pumping to produce an innovative magnetic sensor for small Unmanned Undersea Vehicles (UUVs). The sensor will utilize multiple fiber-coupled self-oscillating magnetometers to produce an intrinsic gradiometer with high measurement sensitivity in a robust, compact, light weight and low power package. The target application for the proposed gradiometer is undersea mine detection for use when acoustic detection and optical imaging are ineffective in cluttered littoral environments. The proposed gradiometer will be designed to fit in small UUVs such as the REMUS-100 and operate in flooded bodies using a fiber multiplexed architecture comprised of a sealed, low power sensor control unit and multiple sealed measurement heads. During the Phase I program Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) will demonstrate critical detection concepts and design electronic circuitry that will enable the proposed architecture. During Phase II a fully operational intrinsic gradiometer will be fabricated and tested to verify operation and performance under representative measurement conditions. The proposed effort leverages PSI’s experience demonstrating sensitive magnetometers with PSI’s successful line of commercial, tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy hardware systems.