Magnetic field measurement system and method of using variable dynamic range optical magnetometers

A magnetic field measurement system, comprising:

• at least one magnetometer, wherein each of the at least one magnetometer comprises a gas cell and a detector array, wherein the detector array is configured to individually observe each of a plurality of domains in the gas cell;
• at least one magnetic field generator with the at least one magnetic field generator configured to generate a compensation field across the at least one magnetometer;
• and
• a controller coupled to the at least one magnetometer and the at least one magnetic field generator, the controller comprising a processor configured for receiving signals from the detector array of the at least one magnetometer, observing or measuring a magnetic field from the received signals, and controlling the at least one magnetic field generator to generate the compensation field resulting in one or more of the domains of the gas cell of the at least one magnetometer operating in a measurement mode, wherein the processor is further configured for adjusting a dynamic range and sensitivity of the array by adjusting a spatial variation of the compensation field to increase or decrease the number of the domains of the at least one magnetometer that operate in the measurement mode.