Systems and methods including multi-mode operation of optically pumped magnetometer(s)

A magnetic field measurement system, comprising:

• a magnetometer;
• at least one magnetic field generator;
• and
• a processor coupled to the magnetometer and the at least one magnetic field generator and configured to:
• i) measure an ambient background magnetic field using the magnetometer in a first mode selected from a scalar mode or a vector mode;
• ii) generate, in response to the measurement of the ambient background magnetic field, a compensation field using the at least one magnetic field generator;
• iii) measure the ambient background magnetic field, reduced by compensation field, using the magnetometer in a spin exchange relaxation free (SERF) mode which is different from the first mode;
• iv) update, in response to the measurement of the ambient background magnetic field reduced by compensation field, the compensation field using the at least one magnetic field generator;
• v) measure a target magnetic field using the magnetometer in the SERF mode;
• and
• vi) determine when the magnetometer is not operating in SERF mode and automatically perform at least steps i) and ii) again.

A method of operating a magnetic field measurement system, the method comprising:

• i) measuring an ambient background magnetic field using a magnetometer operating in a first mode selected from a scalar mode or a vector mode;
• ii) generating, in response to the measurement of the ambient background magnetic field, a compensation field using a at least one magnetic field generator;
• and
• iii) measuring a target magnetic field using the magnetometer operating in a spin exchange relaxation free (SERF) mode which is different from the first mode and
• iv) determining when the magnetometer is not operating in SERF mode and performing steps i) and ii) again.