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Levitated sensor for magnetometry in ambient environment
Wei Ji1,2,3, Changhao Xu2,3, Guofeng Qu2,4,5
1School of Physics and State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, Peking University, Beijing, China.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|August 6, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed a novel room-temperature magnetometer using magnetically levitated magnets. This optical detection method achieves high sensitivity, matching leading technologies for diverse scientific applications.
Area of Science:
- Physics
- Materials Science
- Instrumentation
Background:
- Levitated particle systems offer low-loss, isolated environments for precision sensing.
- Existing room-temperature levitation techniques are acceleration-sensitive, limiting magnetic sensing integration.
- High-sensitivity magnetic sensing is crucial for biology, chemistry, and fundamental physics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate a diamagnetically stabilized magnetically levitated magnet magnetometer.
- To achieve high-sensitivity magnetic field detection at room temperature.
- To overcome limitations of current acceleration-sensitive levitation techniques for magnetic sensing.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing diamagnetic stabilization for magnetic levitation.
- Employing optical detection of the levitated magnet's motion.
- Operating the magnetometer at room temperature and under Earth's magnetic field.
Main Results:
- Achieved a magnetic field sensitivity of 32 femtoteslas per square root of Hertz.
- Demonstrated performance comparable to superconducting quantum interference devices and atomic magnetometers.
- Showcased the system's viability for room-temperature, ambient magnetic field measurements.
Conclusions:
- The developed magnetometer provides a room-temperature, high-sensitivity alternative for magnetic field detection.
- This technology enables new possibilities in precision sensing across various scientific disciplines.
- The system offers advantages in terms of operating conditions and integration potential.
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