Sensitive magnetometry in challenging environments

Abstract

State-of-the-art magnetic field measurements performed in shielded environments with carefully controlled conditions rarely reflect the realities of those applications envisioned in the introductions of peer-reviewed publications. Nevertheless, significant advances in magnetometer sensitivity have been accompanied by serious attempts to bring these magnetometers into the challenging working environments in which they are often required. This review discusses the ways in which various (predominantly optically-pumped) magnetometer technologies have been adapted for use in a wide range of noisy and physically demanding environments.