High temperature superconductor sensors for low field magnetometry

Author

Niculescu, H. ; Gielisse, P.J.

Author_Institution

Coll. of Eng., Florid A&M Univ., Tallahassee, FL, USA

Volume

28

Issue

1

fYear

1992

fDate

1/1/1992 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

809

Lastpage

812

Abstract

The nonlinear strong response of high-temperature superconductors immersed in alternating magnetic fields is employed for measurements of very weak DC fields. Even harmonics are generated due to a strong field dependence of the critical current in these materials. A second harmonic signal induced by magnetic flux threading a detection coil yielded a sensitivity to magnetic fields as low as several tenths of a picotesla. For the best bulk sensors, a minimum detectable flux density of 4×10^-11 T was found for S/N (signal/noise)=1

Keywords

coils; critical currents; high-temperature superconductors; magnetic field measurement; magnetometers; alternating magnetic fields; critical current; detection coil; harmonic signal; high-temperature superconductors; low field magnetometry; magnetic flux; minimum detectable flux density; nonlinear strong response; very weak DC fields; Critical current; High temperature superconductors; Magnetic field measurement; Magnetic flux; Magnetic materials; Magnetic sensors; Superconducting coils; Superconducting magnets; Superconducting materials; Temperature sensors;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9464

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/20.120001

Filename

120001