Magnetometry with Mesospheric Sodium

TL;DR

This paper proposes a cost-effective method for remote magnetic field measurement using mesospheric sodium layers and high-power lasers, enabling large-scale geophysical mapping.

Contribution

It introduces a novel, affordable approach for mesospheric magnetic field detection leveraging existing laser guide-star technology.

Findings

Potential for large-scale magnetic mapping missions

Significant cost reduction compared to existing methods

Feasibility demonstrated with sodium layer detection

Abstract

Measurement of magnetic fields on the few-hundred-kilometer length scale is significant for a variety of geophysical applications including mapping of crustal magnetism and ocean-circulation measurements, yet available techniques for such measurements are very expensive or of limited accuracy. We propose a scheme for remote detection of magnetic fields using the naturally occurring atomic-sodium-rich layer in the mesosphere and existing high-power lasers developed for laser guide-star applications. The proposed scheme offers dramatic reduction in cost, opening the way to large-scale magnetic mapping missions.