Abstract: Atomic magnetometers are usually used as scalar sensors to measure the magnitude of the magnetic field. The magnetic field is converted to a frequency that can be measured with high fractional precision. There are no comparable methods for measuring vector magnetic field components. Common sensors, such as flux-gate and SQUID magnetometers, suffer from calibration and orthogonality uncertainty. Disclosed is a method of using an atomic magnetometer to measure the magnitude and two polar angles of the magnetic field vector. The two polar angles are dimensionless quantities and can be measured with high fractional precision. Also disclosed is a particular measurement procedure that is immune to systematic effects in such measurements.

Abstract: Atomic magnetometers are usually used as scalar sensors to measure the magnitude of the magnetic field. The magnetic field is converted to a frequency that can be measured with high fractional precision. There are no comparable methods for measuring vector magnetic field components. Common sensors, such as flux-gate and SQUID magnetometers, suffer from calibration and orthogonality uncertainty. Disclosed is a method of using an atomic magnetometer to measure the magnitude and two polar angles of the magnetic field vector. The two polar angles are dimensionless quantities and can be measured with high fractional precision. Also disclosed is a particular measurement procedure that is immune to systematic effects in such measurements.

Abstract: According to various embodiments, a method for reducing heading error in a magnetometer that uses Rb-87 atoms is disclosed. The method includes varying a direction and magnitude of a magnetic field at different spin polarization regimes. According to various embodiments, a magnetometer adapted for reduced heading error is disclosed. The magnetometer includes a multipass cell containing Rb-87 vapor, a pump laser operated in a pulse mode that is synchronous with a Larmor frequency, and two orthogonal probe lasers configured to rotate to vary a direction and magnitude of a magnetic field at different spin polarization regimes.

Abstract: According to various embodiments, a method for reducing heading error in a magnetometer that uses Rb-87 atoms is disclosed. The method includes varying a direction and magnitude of a magnetic field at different spin polarization regimes. According to various embodiments, a magnetometer adapted for reduced heading error is disclosed. The magnetometer includes a multipass cell containing Rb-87 vapor, a pump laser operated in a pulse mode that is synchronous with a Larmor frequency, and two orthogonal probe lasers configured to rotate to vary a direction and magnitude of a magnetic field at different spin polarization regimes.