Optically pumped magnetometer and magnetic sensing method

A optically pumped magnetometer comprising:

• a cell filled with an alkali metal;
• a first light source that generates a pump light to excite an atom of the alkali metal;
• a second light source that generates a probe light to detect a desired characteristic of the atom in an excited state;
• a signal output unit that obtains an output signal related to magnetism, which is received by the cell, based on the probe light which has passed through the cell;
• a static magnetic field generating unit that generates a static magnetic field along an optical axis of the first light source in a region in which the cell is disposed;
• and
• a control unit that controls operation of the static magnetic field generating unit,
• wherein the control unit outputs a first control signal to set an intensity of the static magnetic field to a first intensity, and a second control signal to set the intensity of the static magnetic field to a second intensity different from the first intensity.