Lightweight Laser Magnetic Gradiometer (LLMG)

This Phase II Small Business Research Project will develop a prototype for a Lightweight Laser Magnetic Gradiometer suitable for integration into UUVs such as the Remus 100 and similar platforms. The LLMG is used to characterize buried mines and eliminate sonar clutter in shallow water MCM operations where it is desirable to remove men and other mammals from the water. The LLMG will consist of two laser-pumped omni-directional scalar sensors placed along the platform longitudinal axis in a in a nose module which is a roll-on, roll-off module for the UUV. Polatomic laser magnetometer technology was recently demonstrated in the Laser Scalar Gradiometer at AUV FEST 07 and 08 with outstanding results. The individual sensors will have a sensitivity better than 15pT/root-Hz and can be operated at their demonstrated sensitivity better than 1 pT/root Hz if required (better than 300 fT/root-Hz in AN/ASQ-233 Airborne MAD system). The LLMG will address miniaturization and packaging for neutral buoyancy and robustness for handling as a UUV nose cone module.