Polatomic began development
of laser pumped helium magnetometers under SBIR (Small Business
Innovation Research) sponsorship, and has emerged as the world leader
in high performance optically pumped magnetometers. Polatomic has used
the SBIR funds entrusted to it to provide innovative solutions to high
priority magnetic measurement problems for its sponsors.
Following
is a brief technical history of Polatomic’s research efforts,
subdivided into categories according to major SBIR sponsors.
ONR / NAVAIR
Polatomic developed a laser control system for the patented low-noise diode laser pump source to lock the radiation frequency of the laser to the required helium-4 absorption line. The diode laser was incorporated into the low noise line-locking pump source, and a digital magnetic resonance control loop was developed. The sensor instrument incorporating these developments is the AN/ASQ-233 system. Three systems were built and delivered to NAVAIR for testing Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) signal detection from airborne platforms. An omni-directional scalar magnetic field sensor is being developed for use in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) platforms. The AN/ASQ-233 Magnetometer technology was selected by Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) in 2008 to upgrade all P-3C aircraft currently performing ASW operations.
ONR / NAVSEA
Polatomic continues to advance its laser pumped magnetometer technology under ONR and NAVSEA sponsorship.
NASA / JPL
Polatomic
designed the control electronics for the scalar magnetometer used on
the Cassini spacecraft currently in route to the planet Saturn and its
moon Titan. The company was also selected by JPL to design and
fabricate a miniature scalar laser magnetometer for the “INSIDE
Jupiter” mission.
National Science Foundation (NSF)
An
advanced free-precession magnetometer and a dual mode magnetometer for
both vector and scalar operation have been developed for geomagnetic
field measurement applications.
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