Project »QMag – Quantum Magnetometry«

Fraunhofer lighthouse project QMag

In the Fraunhofer lighthouse project QMag, Fraunhofer IPM is researching the industrial suitability of optically pumped magnetometers (OPM) in order to include magnetic field measurements in our sensor technology portfolio. OPM exhibit extreme measurement accuracy, which is directly connected to atomic constants (see Fig. 1).

Due to their sensitivity, OPM can serve as detectors for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Standard NMR normally uses very strong magnetic fields. We will transfer the methods known from the high-field range to the range of lowest magnetic fields (zero-to-ultra-low-field, ZULF) with B < 1 µT up to the range of the earth’s field (EF) with B < 100 µT. Using the resulting low frequencies we want to improve the compatibility of NMR signals with metallic components. The aim is to build NMR-based flow meters that measure multiphase flows.

At the same time, we want to make OPM usable for materials testing. For this purpose, we will integrate OPM into micro-fatigue setups in order to measure the time course of stray magnetic fields in metal samples. These stray fields are generated by cracks and flaws in the material and can help to detect and measure the smallest cracks in the material even before crack initiation occurs. The presently known magnetic field strengths of these stray fields are in the range of nT - µT, which can be measured very easily with OPM.

© Fraunhofer IPM
Basic principle of optically pumped magnetometers (OPM). A vapor of alkali atoms is spin-polarized (i.e. aligned) in a magnetic field. This spin-polarization couples to the magnetic field that is to be measured and generates a measurable frequency. This frequency is determined by atomic constants and is therefore robust against interferences.
© Fraunhofer IPM
Halbach magnets: Components for NMR-based flow measurement (NMR: nuclear magnetic resonance).
© Fraunhofer IPM
We use self-made Halbach magnets (left in the picture) to polarize the liquid to be measured. This allows us to measure NMR signals in a controlled magnetic environment.

Further Information

Fraunhofer lighthouse project

 

 

 

Fraunhofer meets the current challenges of the German industry. With its lighthouse projects, it sets strategic priorities in order to develop concrete solutions for the benefit of Germany as a business location. The aim is to quickly translate original scientific ideas into marketable products.

 

Project »QMag«

The goal of the Fraunhofer consortium »QMag« is to further develop magnetometers and to test them for applications.

Poster presentations by Fraunhofer IPM at the »9th Workshop on optically pumped magnetometers«

Publications »Magnetometry«

Jahr
Year
Titel/Autor:in
Title/Author
Publikationstyp
Publication Type
2023 Quantum Magnetometry for Material Testing
Thiemann, Kerstin; Blug, Andreas; Bertz, Alexander
Konferenzbeitrag
Conference Paper
2023 Quantum magnetometry with OPM: Novel applications in non-destructive testing?
Blug, Andreas; Thiemann, Kerstin; Philipp, Simon; Straub, Thomas; Bertz, Alexander
Konferenzbeitrag
Conference Paper
2023 Magnetic cleanliness verification of miniature satellites for high precision pointing
Busch, Stephan; Koss, Peter; Horch, Clemens; Schäfer, Konstantin; Schimmerohn, Martin; Schäfer, Frank; Kühnemann, Frank
Zeitschriftenaufsatz
Journal Article
2023 Magnetic Flow Metering with Optically Pumped Magnetometers (OPM)
Schmieder, Leonhard; Koss, Peter; Kühnemann, Frank
Konferenzbeitrag
Conference Paper
2023 Demonstration of an OPM flux guide scanner for high-resolution magnetic non-destructive testing
Thiemann, Kerstin; Blug, Andreas; Bertz, Alexander; Carl, Daniel
Konferenzbeitrag
Conference Paper
2022 Materialprüfung mit optisch gepumpten Magnetometern
Blug, Andreas; Durmaz, Ali Riza; Straub, Thomas
Aufsatz in Buch
Book Article
2022 Quantenmagnetometrie hilft, Materialschädigungen früher zu detektieren
Bertz, Alexander
Zeitschriftenaufsatz
Journal Article
2022 Material Testing with Optically Pumped Magnetometers
Blug, Andreas; Durmaz, Ali Riza; Straub, Thomas
Aufsatz in Buch
Book Article
2022 Noninvasive Magnetic-Marking-Based Flow Metering with Optically Pumped Magnetometers
Schmieder, Leonhard; Koss, Peter A.; Lambrecht, Armin; Kühnemann, Frank
Zeitschriftenaufsatz
Journal Article
2022 Using optically pumped magnetometers to identify initial damage in bulk material during fatigue testing
Thiemann, Kerstin; Blug, Andreas; Koss, Peter; Durmaz, Ali Riza; Laskin, Gennadii; Bertz, Alexander; Kühnemann, Frank; Straub, Thomas
Konferenzbeitrag
Conference Paper
2022 Optically pumped magnetometer measuring fatigue-induced damage in steel
Koss, Peter A.; Durmaz, Ali Riza; Blug, Andreas; Laskin, Gennadii; Pawar, Omkar Satish; Thiemann, Kerstin; Bertz, Alexander; Straub, Thomas; Elsässer, Christian
Zeitschriftenaufsatz
Journal Article
2021 Measuring Magneto-Mechanical Hysteresis during Fatigue Testing using Optically Pumped Magnetometers
Blug, Andreas; Koss, Peter A.; Durmaz, Ali Riza; Laskin, Gennadii; Bertz, Alexander; Kühnemann, Frank; Straub, Thomas
Poster
2021 ZULF-NMR Based Flow Metering
Schmieder, Leonhard; Koss, Peter A.; Kühnemann, Frank
Poster
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