Photo-excited magnetic sensor

Abstract

The present invention provides an optically excited magnetic sensor that can suppress the decrease in magnetic field detection sensitivity. [Solution] The optically excited magnetic sensor 1 comprises a laser unit 2 including a laser element 21 that emits laser light L, a cell unit 6 including a cell 61 containing alkali metal, a photodetector 7 that detects the laser light L emitted from the laser element 21 and passing through the cell 61, a polarizing unit 5 including a polarizing element 51 that is arranged on the optical path P of the laser light L from the laser element 21 to the cell 61 and emits the incident laser light L as circularly polarized light, and a unit support member 8 that supports the polarizing unit 5. The polarizing unit 5 and the unit support member 8 are shaped such that the polarizing unit 5 can rotate with respect to the unit support member 8 with respect to the optical axis A2 of the polarizing element 51 as the center line when the polarizing unit 5 is supported by the unit support member 8, and are fixed to each other when the polarizing unit 5 is supported by the unit support member 8.

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