Electromagnetic Imaging with Atomic Magnetometers: A Novel Approach to Security and Surveillance

TL;DR

This paper explores using highly sensitive atomic magnetometers for electromagnetic imaging, enabling improved detection of conductive objects through various media for security and surveillance applications.

Contribution

It introduces a novel electromagnetic imaging approach leveraging atomic magnetometers' extreme sensitivity, surpassing traditional coil-based systems.

Findings

Atomic magnetometers achieve up to seven orders of magnitude higher sensitivity.

Deep penetration through media and barriers is possible with this method.

The approach overcomes limitations of conventional electromagnetic detection systems.

Abstract

We describe our research programme on the use of atomic magnetometers to detect conductive objects via electromagnetic induction. The extreme sensitivity of atomic magnetometers at low frequencies, up to seven orders of magnitude higher than a coil-based system, permits deep penetration through different media and barriers, and in various operative environments. This eliminates the limitations usually associated with electromagnetic detection.