Researchers at the University of Strathclyde are working on cutting-edge sensing technology designed to safeguard infrastructure and security.
The technology is versatile, capable of applications ranging from thwarting smuggling to facilitating navigation in areas without GPS signals. It will be able to monitor solar weather phenomena to protect essential national infrastructure, like the electricity grid.
It can also detect hidden items in secure areas such as airports and harbours. The technology is set to evolve into more sophisticated versions of optically pumped magnetometers (OPMs), known for their high accuracy, steadiness, and dependability.
The project, led by Dr. Dominic Hunter from Strathclyde’s Department of Physics, seeks to employ cutting-edge methods in magnetometry and the creation of vapour cells to reach unprecedented levels of precision, as close as a few parts per billion to the Earth’s magnetic field.
Dr. Hunter has been awarded a Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng) UK Intelligence Community Postdoctoral Research Fellowship for his work. He is among six recipients of the grants, with his fellowship amounting to £250,000 over a span of two years.
Dr Hunter commented:
“Security and infrastructure are essential to ensuring that society as a whole functions properly and the importance of protecting them cannot be overstated.
This will be, with the support of the Royal Academy of Engineering’s fellowship, the aim of my research.
OPMs are an exceptional platform for magnetic imaging, which has many applications for achieving these goals. A central focus of the research will be stability, which is crucial for avoiding drifts and ensuring the clear detection of magnetic signals of interest.
Most commercial systems often suffer from drifts and require frequent recalibration when operating in the Earth’s ambient magnetic field conditions. This research proposes a self-calibrating method to address these challenges.”
Each fellowship recipient will receive financial support for at least two years of their project, mentorship from a Fellow of RAEng, and guidance from the intelligence community.
