2009/12/22 by James Higbie, J. M. Higbie, Simon Rochester +15 · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · #Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics (physics.ao-ph) #Atomic Physics (physics.atom-ph) #Atomic and Subatomic Physics Research #FOS: Physical sciences #Geophysics (physics.geo-ph) #Ionosphere and magnetosphere dynamics #Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies #physics.ao-ph #physics.atom-ph #physics.geo-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.0912.4310
5 pages, 3 figures
arxiv created 2009/12/22 · openalex publication_date 2009/12/22 · arxiv updated 2010/01/14 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Measurement of magnetic fields on the few-hundred-kilometer length scale is significant for a variety of geophysical applications including mapping of crustal magnetism and ocean-circulation measurements, yet available techniques for such measurements are very expensive or of limited accuracy. We propose a scheme for remote detection of magnetic fields using the naturally occurring atomic-sodium-rich layer in the mesosphere and existing high-power lasers developed for laser guide-star applications. The proposed scheme offers dramatic reduction in cost, opening the way to large-scale magnetic mapping missions.