Rapid Electromagnetic Induction Imaging with an Optically Raster-Scanned Atomic Magnetometer

TL;DR

This paper introduces a rapid electromagnetic induction imaging method using an optically raster-scanned atomic magnetometer, enabling fast, robust imaging of conductive targets without mechanical scanning delays.

Contribution

It demonstrates a novel optical raster-scanning technique within a vapor cell for electromagnetic imaging, significantly increasing imaging speed and robustness over traditional mechanical methods.

Findings

Achieved imaging resolution at 40 ms per pixel.

Successfully resolved conductive targets using EMI.

Implemented optical raster-scanning within a vapor cell.

Abstract

We present an apparatus to overcome the limitations of mechanical raster-scanning in electromagnetic induction imaging (EMI) techniques by instead performing a 2D optical raster-scan within the vapour cell of a radio-frequency atomic magnetometer (RF-AM). A large cuboidal 87Rb vapour cell is employed to act as the medium of an RF-AM with the pump and probe beams translated in the cell via acousto-optics. The technique is shown to give robust and repeatable magnetic measurements over the cell volume and successfully resolves conductive targets with EMI. Optical raster-scanning removes the limitation of slow mechanical actuation and a fast imaging procedure is enacted resolving conductive targets at a rate of 40 ms/pixel.