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Gradiometer Based on Nonlinear Magneto-Optic Rotation

Award Information
Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Branch: N/A
Contract: NNG05CA79C
Agency Tracking Number: 040887
Amount: $70,000.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: S1.01
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2004
Award Year: 2005
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2005-01-19
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2005-07-25
Small Business Information
1570 Pacheco St Suite E-11
Santa Fe, NM 87505-3993
United States
DUNS: 153579891
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 David Christian Hovde
 Principal Investigator
 (513) 272-1323
 dchovde@swsciences.com
Business Contact
 Alan Stanton
Title: President
Phone: (505) 984-1322
Email: astanton@swsciences.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

This Phase I SBIR project will demonstrate sensitive measurements of magnetic field gradients by nonlinear atomic spectroscopy. The gradients are determined by measuring the magnitudes of the magnetic fields in two atomic vapor cells. A vertical cavity surface emitting laser is used to create an atomic coherence. This coherent state is long lived because of the special construction of the atomic vapor cell. A measurement of the Larmor precession frequency of the coherent state gives a precise measurement of the magnetic field. The field measurement precision should be 0.3 fT in a 1 Hz bandwidth. Two such probes can be tethered at the ends of 80 m cables from a rotating space craft. Typical geophysical gradients of ~ 250 fT can be measured from a single spacecraft with excellent signal/noise. The system uses no cryogenic fluids, no consumable chemicals, and will operate from a few Watts of electrical power.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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