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The magnetic noise generated by the ferrite magnetic shield affects the performance of ultra-sensitive atomic sensors. Differential measurement can effectively suppress the influence of common-mode (CM) magnetic noise, but the limit of suppression capability is not clear at present. In this paper, a finite element analysis model using power loss to calculate differential-mode (DM) magnetic noise under a ferrite magnetic shield is proposed. The experimental results confirm the feasibility of the model. An ultrahigh-sensitive magnetometer was built, the single channel magnetic noise measured and the differential-mode (DM) magnetic noise are 0.70 fT/Hz1/2 and 0.10 fT/Hz1/2 @30 Hz. The DM magnetic noise calculated by the proposed model is less than 5% different from the actual measured value. To effectively reduce DM magnetic noise, we analyze and optimize the structure parameters of the shield on the DM magnetic noise. When the outer diameter is fixed, the model is used to analyze the influence of the ratio of ferrite magnetic shielding thickness to outer diameter, the ratio of length to outer diameter, and the air gap between magnetic annuli on DM magnetic noise. The results show that the axial DM magnetic noise and radial DM magnetic noise reach the optimal values when the thickness to outer diameter ratio is 0.08 and 0.1. The ratio of length to outer diameter is negatively correlated with DM magnetic noise, and the air gap (0.1–1 mm) is independent of DM magnetic noise. The axial DM magnetic noise is less than that of radial DM magnetic noise. These results are useful for suppressing magnetic noise and breaking through the sensitivity of the magnetometer.

This study proposes a high-performance magnetic shielding structure composed of MnZn ferrite and mu-metal film. The use of the mu-metal film with a high magnetic permeability restrains the decrease in the magnetic shielding coefficient caused by the magnetic leakage between the gap of magnetic annuli. The 0.1–0.5 mm thickness of mu-metal film prevents the increase of magnetic noise of composite structure. The finite element simulation results show that the magnetic shielding coefficient and magnetic noise are almost unchanged with the increase in the gap width. Compared with conventional ferrite magnetic shields with multiple annuli structures under the gap width of 0.5 mm, the radial shielding coefficient increases by 13.2%, and the magnetic noise decreases by 21%. The axial shielding coefficient increases by 22.3 times. Experiments verify the simulation results of the shielding coefficient of the combined magnetic shield. The shielding coefficient of the combined magnetic shield is 16.5%. It is 91.3% higher than the conventional ferrite magnetic shield. The main difference is observed between the actual and simulated relative permeability of mu-metal films. The combined magnetic shielding proposed in this study is of great significance to further promote the performance of atomic sensors sensitive to magnetic field.