The coupled dark state magnetometer (CDSM) is an optically pumped scalar magnetometer, which is based on two-photon spectroscopy of free alkali atoms. This paper introduces the measurement principle, instrument design, required resources and key performance characteristics of the flight model for the China Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite, which is the first demonstration of the CDSM measurement principle in space. The CDSM uses several coherent population trapping (CPT) resonances in parallel in order to reduce systematic errors, e.g. the sensor temperature dependence. Overall five control loops were identified to enable a reliable operation. As known so far CPT is the only effect in optical magnetometry which inherently enables omni-directional, dead-zone-free measurements. This leads to a simple all-optical sensor design without double cell units, excitation coils or electromechanical parts. The instrument is characterized by an accuracy of 0.19 nT (σ), a detection noise of 50 pTrms at 1 s integration time, a mass of 1672 g and an in-Earth orbit measured power consumption of 3394 mW.

Abstract. The China Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite (CSES) was launched in February 2018 into a polar, sun-synchronous, low Earth orbit. It provides the first demonstration of the Coupled Dark State Magnetometer (CDSM) measurement principle in space. The CDSM is an optical scalar magnetometer based on the coherent population trapping (CPT) effect and measures the scalar field with the lowest absolute error aboard CSES. Therefore, it serves as the reference instrument for the measurements done by the fluxgate sensors within the High Precision Magnetometer instrument package. In this paper several correction steps are discussed in order to improve the accuracy of the CDSM data. This includes the extraction of valid 1 Hz data, the application of the sensor heading characteristic, the handling of discontinuities, which occur when switching between the CPT resonance superpositions, and the removal of fluxgate and satellite interferences. The in-orbit performance is compared to the Absolute Scalar Magnetometer aboard the Swarm satellite Bravo via the CHAOS magnetic field model. Additionally, an uncertainty of the magnetic field measurement is derived from unexpected parametric changes of the CDSM in orbit in combination with performance measurements on the ground.

A set of optical fiber assemblies has been developed and successfully qualified for its use on a European space science mission to the icy moons of Jupiter (Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, JUICE), to be launched in 2022. The paper gives an overview of the design challenges, the test methods used for failure detection and screening of the optical fiber cable assemblies as well as the further testing performed in the frame of a lot acceptance qualification.