We analyze a different approach for quantum magnetic sensing via optical detection of nuclear-spin precession in a noble gas. The detection is carried out with an ultraviolet frequency comb laser, so no alkali vapor is required to be mixed with the noble gas during the sensing stage, allowing for an hours-long spin-relaxation time at room temperature. Our analysis reveals that combining high laser power and low laser intensity noise is crucial to achieving and exceeding state-of-the-art magnetometric performance, including that of cryogenic magnetometers. We find operational regimes where either fundamental or technical noise dominates, which directs experimental effort toward increasing laser power or lowering laser intensity noise, respectively. We also show that optimizing beam size is key to achieving optimal sensitivity. Our calculations predict that a record-breaking sensitivity of $24\mathrm{aT}/\sqrt{\mathrm{Hz}}$ is achievable in 10 minutes with a 10 W ultraviolet laser with a relative intensity noise of −100 dBc/Hz.

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• Magnetometry
• Noise
• Quantum sensing
• Shot noise
• Optical spectroscopy