US Patent 10983230 Parallel dipole line trap seismometer and vibration sensor

Parallel dipole line (PDL) trap seismometer and vibration sensors are provided. In one aspect of the invention, a seismometer is provided. The seismometer includes: at least one PDL trap having a pair of dipole line magnets, and a diamagnetic object levitating above the dipole line magnets; and a sensing system (passive or active sensing) for determining a position of the diamagnetic object relative to the dipole line magnets and to yield the seismic signal in terms of displacement or acceleration. Methods for sensing vibrations using the present PDL trap seismometer and vibration sensors are also provided.