21.15109/ARP/HQN8RTKurkó, ÁrpádÁrpádKurkó0000-0002-6113-7671HUN-REN Wigner Research Centre for PhysicsNagy, DávidDávidNagyHUN-REN Wigner Research Centre for PhysicsSimon, AlexandraAlexandraSimonHUN-REN Wigner Research Centre for PhysicsClark, Thomas W.Thomas W.ClarkHUN-REN Wigner Research Centre for PhysicsDombi, AndrásAndrásDombi0000-0003-2158-0609HUN-REN Wigner Research Centre for PhysicsVarga, DánielDánielVargaHUN-REN Wigner Research Centre for PhysicsWilliams, Francis B.Francis B.Williams0009-0004-7311-9245HUN-REN Wigner Research Centre for PhysicsFortágh, JózsefJózsefFortághEberhard Karls Universität TübingenDomokos, PeterPeterDomokos0000-0002-1002-5733HUN-REN Wigner Research Centre for PhysicsVukics, AndrásAndrásVukics0000-0001-8916-4033HUN-REN Wigner Research Centre for PhysicsARP2026Physicscold atomsquantum sensingmagnetic sensingdifferential metrologyKurkó, ÁrpádÁrpádKurkóHUN-REN Wigner Research Centre for Physics2026-04-072026-04-132025-09-11/2025-11-10Experimental data (image data)10.5158/ARP/HQN8RT2160046612160046612160046612160046612160046612160046612160046612160046612160046612160046614320088284320088284320088284320088284320088284320088284320088284320088284320088284320088282873693322873693322873693322873693322873693322873693322873693322873693322873693322873693321436847221436847221436847221436847221436847221436847221436847221436847221436847221436847221436847221436847221436847221812application/octet-streamapplication/octet-streamapplication/octet-streamapplication/octet-streamapplication/octet-streamapplication/octet-streamapplication/octet-streamapplication/octet-streamapplication/octet-streamapplication/octet-streamapplication/octet-streamapplication/octet-streamapplication/octet-streamapplication/octet-streamapplication/octet-streamapplication/octet-streamapplication/octet-streamapplication/octet-streamapplication/octet-streamapplication/octet-streamapplication/octet-streamapplication/octet-streamapplication/octet-streamapplication/octet-streamapplication/octet-streamapplication/octet-streamapplication/octet-streamapplication/octet-streamapplication/octet-streamapplication/octet-streamapplication/octet-streamapplication/octet-streamapplication/octet-streamapplication/octet-streamapplication/octet-streamapplication/octet-streamapplication/octet-streamapplication/octet-streamapplication/octet-streamapplication/octet-streamapplication/octet-streamapplication/octet-streamapplication/octet-streamtext/plain; charset=UTF-81.0CC BY-NC 4.0We present a differential technique for vector magnetic sensing based on a cold- atom cloud in a magnetic quadrupole trap. An external homogeneous magnetic field displaces the trap center in a direction and magnitude proportional to the field. By reversing the quadrupole polarity between experimental shots and comparing the resulting cloud positions, we extract a differential displacement signal that is free from common-mode effects such as gravity and weak magnetic- field inhomogeneities. The signal is directionally proportional to the external field and requires only absorption imaging, without spectroscopic interrogation. Assuming micron-scale position resolution, the technique enables field resolution at the milli-Gauss level. It offers a practical tool for field compensation in magnetically sensitive experimental stages, bridging operational regimes from Earth-level fields to atomic magnetometry. A straightforward extension to full three-dimensional sensing is possible with only a minimal addition to standard cold-atom infrastructure.Hungarian National Research, Development and Innovation Office2022-2.1.1-NL-2022-00004 and 2025-3.1.1-ED- 2025-00011ERANET COFUND QuantERAMOCA 2019-2.1.7- ERA NET-2022-00041QuantERA IIV-mag 2024-1.2.2-ERA NET- 2024-00012Swiss National Science Foundation230870