Mainz 2026 – scientific programme
Parts | Days | Selection | Search | Updates | Downloads | Help
Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik
Q 47: Quantum Technologies – Sensing II
Q 47.1: Talk
Thursday, March 5, 2026, 11:00–11:15, P 5
Advancing geophysical research using optically pumped magnetometers — •Marco Decker1,2, Rafael Rothganger de Paiva1,3, Raquel Flores1, Dimitrii Grigorev1, and René Reimann1 — 1Quantum Research Center, Technology Innovation Institute, Abu Dhabi, UAE — 2Department of Physics and Research center OPTIMAS, RPTU University Kaiserslautern-Landau — 3Universidade Federal do ABC, Santo Andre, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Highly precise and accurate magnetic field sensing has real-world applications in biomedical imaging [1], positioning and navigation [2]. In this work, we present the magnetic analysis of rock samples without remanent magnetization using optically pumped magnetometry, opening applications in paleomagnetic research and geological exploration [3]. The core samples are placed inside a shielded environment with a known, uniform static magnetic field of up to 5 mT. Utilizing a commercial SERF magnetometer, we measure the samples magnetic susceptibillity with pT precision and millimeter-scale resolution. The setup is characterized with well-known test samples and then tested with real-world limestone samples. Linear and rotational translation enable the scanning of 2D cylindrical surface maps of the magnetic field, which can then be used to infer the samples internal magnetic properties. The analyzed data is in general accordance with dipole simulations, also confirming clear limitations of the setup.
[1] P. K. Mandal, Front. Comput. Neurosci. 12 (2018); [2] M. Muradoglu, arXiv, 2504.08167 (2025); [3] C. Deans, Appl. Opt. 57, 2346-2351 (2018)
Keywords: Magnetometry; Magnetic Suszeptibility; Optically Pumped Magnetometers; Magnetic shielding; Geophysics and Geological Research