A dual-axis,high-sensitivity atomic magnetometer

Atomic magnetometer(AM) operated in a spin-exchange relaxation-free(SERF) regime features superior sensitivity and non-cryogenic operation, and thus is competitive with the best superconducting quantum interference devices.Previously, SERF AM with f T/Hz~(1/2) level sensitivity commonly acted as a single-axis sensor. Here we demonstrate a dual-axis SERF AM capable of simultaneously and independently detecting x-and y-field components with a sensitivity of 20 f T/Hz~(1/2). As there is no necessity to worry about the cross-talk effects arising from field modulations, the dual-axis scheme proposed here is of particular interest to AM array and hence the biomagnetic applications.