Rb Optically Pumped Magnetometry
By Raina, Angela
Deception can produce involuntary and measurable changes in cardiovascular response. For example, significant differences in heart rate have been found when comparing truthful and deceptive responses (Godert et al. 2001). Atomic magnetometers can achieve subfemtotesla sensitivity to magnetic fields without the cryogenic cooling required by superconducting sensors (Kominis et al. 2003). More recent OPM designs have been used directly for human magnetocardiography (Kim et al. 2019).
Rather than measuring cardiac activity through conventional electrical or mechanical sensors, this project proposes using a rubidium optically pumped magnetometer (OPM) to measure the magnetic field generated by the heart. The objective is not to demonstrate the validity of magnetocardiography, but to construct and validate the experimental capability and then determine whether heart activity as measured by the rubidium OPM can significantly distinguish truthful responses from deceptive ones.
Intellectual Merit: The project will apply quantum sensing techniques to cardiovascular responses associated with deception. Its scientific value is the construction and characterization of rubidium OPM, which uses optical pumping to polarize atomic spins and detect extremely weak magnetic fields for noninvasive observation of deceptive signals. The final result will be a documented assessment of whether deception-associated cardiac activity is detectable magnetically and whether a rubidium OPM is sensitive and stable enough for this type of measurement.
Broader Impact: A functioning and characterized rubidium OPM would provide QLab with a reusable experimental capability for future investigations involving weak magnetic fields and quantum biological sensing, as well as possible extensions to other fields such as geophysics and underwater surveillance. The documented design and operating procedures could also serve as a starting point for future student projects. The study will help establish both the capabilities and limitations of applying quantum to human physiology.