Abstract: A device for sensing a microwave magnetic field polarization component (B?, B?, B+) of a microwave relative to a static magnetic field B0, comprising a preparation means to prepare atomic vapor (10) comprising thermal atoms in a first hyperfine state, particularly a dark state to applied laser light, which first hyperfine state is split from other hyperfine state due to zero-field hyperfine splitting and/or due to a static magnetic field (B0) generated by preparation means, at least one cell enclosing the thermal atoms (10), the microwave is adapted to drive Rabi oscillations of thermal atoms between first hyperfine state and second hyperfine state, Rabi frequency of Rabi oscillations being proportional to magnetic field polarization component (B?, B?, B+) of the microwave, and imaging means to capture state image of plurality of atoms representing spatial atomic density distribution (Ne) as a function of the Rabi frequency (?i(r)) of Rabi oscillations.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for sensing a microwave magnetic field polarization component (B?, B?, B+,) of a microwave relative to a static magnetic field B0, comprising: a preparation means being designed to prepare an atomic vapor (10) comprising a plurality of thermal atoms in a first hyperfine state, particularly a dark state to applied laser light, which first hyperfine state is split from at least one other hyperfine state due to the zero-field hyperfine splitting and/or due to a static magnetic field (B0) generated by said preparation means, at least one cell (1) enclosing said plurality of thermal atoms (10), wherein said microwave is adapted to drive Rabi oscillations of said plurality of thermal atoms between said first hyperfine state and a second hyperfine state, the Rabi frequency of said Rabi oscillations being proportional to said magnetic field polarization component (B?, B?, B+) of said microwave, and an imaging means being designed to capture a state image of said plurality of atoms re