Yao Chen
(
Associate Professor of Xi'an Jiaotong University)
Optically pumped magnetometers (OPMs) have demonstrated exceptional sensitivity for ultra-weak magnetic field measurements, paving the way for advanced applications such as magnetoencephalography (MEG) and ultra-low field nuclear magnetic resonance (ULF-NMR). However, the bulky nature of traditional table-top setups restricts their deployment in highly integrated, multi-channel, or portable systems. Here, we present the development of a highly integrated, chip-scale atomic magnetometer that leverages novel microfabrication techniques[1,2]. To address the opacity issue of traditional silicon-based cells, we developed a multi-faceted transparent MEMS alkali vapor cell[3]. Furthermore, we employed a femtosecond laser welding technique for cell sealing[4](as shown in Fig.1), which successfully preserves the octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) anti-relaxation coatings. For compact magnetic field control, we integrated MEMS bi-planar coils, enabling three-dimensional magnetic field manipulation within a miniaturized footprint. The fully packaged sensor features a compact size of just 45 mm × 15 mm × 12 mm and achieves a magnetic field sensitivity of 20 fT/√Hz[1]. Finally, we demonstrate the practical application of this sensor by constructing a ULF-NMR spectrometer, which was successfully utilized to detect and analyze the concentration of copper sulfate (CuSO₄) ions in aqueous solutions. Our work provides a scalable and high-performance solution for the next generation of brain magnetic field imaging and biochemical ULF-NMR analysis.
[1]Ma Y, Chen Y, Yu M, Wang Y, Guo J, Yang P, et al. Chip-scale quantum magnetometer empowered by reflector-integrated all-in-one atomic vapor cell. Science China Physics, Mechanics & Astronomy 2026, 69(2): 220313.
[2] Wang Y, Yu M, Chen Y, Ma Y, Han X, Xia Y, et al. The fabrication of MEMS alkali metal vapor cells based on ultrafast laser welding for single beam magnetometer. Microsystems & Nanoengineering 2025, 11(1): 153.
[3] Yu M, Chen Y, Wang Y, Han X, Luo G, Zhao L, et al. Microfabricated Atomic Vapor Cells with Multi-Optical Channels Based on an Innovative Inner-Sidewall Molding Process. Engineering 2024, 35: 46-55.
[4]Ma Y, Chen Y, Yu M, Wang Y, Lu S, Guo J, et al. Ultrasensitive SERF atomic magnetometer with a miniaturized hybrid vapor cell. Microsystems & Nanoengineering 2024, 10(1): 121.
Chen Yao is an Associate Professor at the School of Instrument Science and Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong University. He received his Ph.D., and serves as a doctoral and master’s supervisor. He was a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Physics at Harvard University. His research interests focus on novel micro-/nano-fabrication and sensor technologies, quantum sensors and their chip integration, as well as precision quantum measurements and quantum simulation based on ion traps. He plans to conduct interdisciplinary research and apply these technologies to advanced medical equipment for magnetoencephalography (MEG), intelligent power grids, and quantum simulation. He has led a number of key projects, including the Youth Scientist Program under the National Key R&D Program, the General Program and the Youth Program of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, commissioned projects from State Grid and other well-known enterprises, as well as the “Siyuan Scholar” program of Xi’an Jiaotong University and open projects from the Zhijiang Laboratory. He has published multiple research papers as first author or corresponding author in leading journals such as Physical Review Letters, Engineering, Microsystem and Nano-Engineering, Biomedical Optics Express, and Optics Express, among others.