Impulse response of a fluxgate sensor--Application to lightning discharge location and measurement

The fluxgate magnetometer, which has been used for many years in the measurement of dc or low frequency magnetic fields, may also be adapted to the quantitative measurement of magnetic field impulses of short duration. The impulse is effectively stored in the sensor and read out during one or more excitation periods. This storage is accomplished by means of a shorted coil of suitable time constant wound around the sensor core. A possible application is the location and measurement of the amount of charge transfer in lightning flashes.