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Ground-based Lasers Map Earth's Magnetic Field

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BERKELEY, Calif., Feb. 17, 2011 — Mapping the Earth's magnetic field to find oil, track storms or probe the planet's interior typically requires expensive satellites. University of California, Berkeley, physicists have now come up with a much cheaper way to measure the Earth's magnetic field using only a ground-based laser. The method involves exciting sodium atoms in a layer 90 km above the surface and measuring the light they give off. "Normally, the laser makes the sodium atom fluoresce," said Dmitry Budker, UC Berkeley professor of physics. "But if you modulate the laser light, when the modulation frequency...Read full article

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    Published: February 2011
    Glossary
    adaptive optics
    Adaptive optics (AO) is a technology used to improve the performance of optical systems by reducing the effects of atmospheric distortions. The Earth's atmosphere can cause light passing through it to experience distortions, resulting in image blurring and degradation in various optical applications, such as astronomical observations, laser communications, and imaging systems. Adaptive optics systems actively adjust the optical elements in real-time to compensate for these distortions. Key...
    astronomy
    The scientific observation of celestial radiation that has reached the vicinity of Earth, and the interpretation of these observations to determine the characteristics of the extraterrestrial bodies and phenomena that have emitted the radiation.
    adaptive opticsAmericasastronomyBasic ScienceBrian PattonBucknell UniversityChiledefenseDmitry BudkerEarths Magnetic FieldEuropeEuropean mission SWARMEuropean Southern ObservatoryGeostationary Operational Environmental SatellitesGround-based Laserground-based remote sensingHawaiiJames HigbieKeck Telescopelaser guide starslaser lightLight SourcesmirrorsNational Geospatial-Intelligence AgencyNGA NURIOpticsorange sodium linepolarized lightPortable laser magnetometersResearch & Technologyrubber mirrorsSimon M. Rochestersodium atomsspin-polarized sodium atomsspin-polarized spectroscopyUniversity of California BerkeleyVery Large TelescopeLasers

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