Power supply and telemetry system for optical magnetometers

Claim 1

An optical magnetometer system for measuring the earth''s magnetic field comprising, a. an aerodynamic body adapted to be towed by an airplane; b. a pair of electrical conductors interconnected between said aerodynamic body and the airplane; c. a magnetic sensor in said aerodynamic body, including, 1. a source of resonance raDiation, 2. an absorption cell containing atoms excitable to a higher energy state by the radiation from said source, 3. depumping means associated with said absorption cell for deenergizing atoms excited by the radiation, and 4. a radiation detector for producing an electrical signal responsive to radiation emitted by said source and passing through said absorption cell; d. a power oscillator in said aerodynamic body for providing power to operate said source of resonance radiation; e. a d-c power supply in the airplane the d-c output of said power supply being connected to said pair of electrical conductors to provide power to said power oscillator; f. a voltage controlled oscillator in the airplane for generating a depumping signal which is transmitted over said pair of electrical conductors to said depumping means; g. a phase detector in the airplane for receiving the electrical signal produced by said radiation detector over said pair of electrical conductors and comparing it with a reference signal; and h. a sweep generator in the airplane for providing a sweep signal to said voltage controlled oscillator and a reference signal to said phase detector.