A Novel Design of Fluxgate Magnetometer: An Insect like Configuration

Abstract

In the present work, we propose a novel design of the fluxgate magnetometer which utilizes the detection of ultra-low DC fields down to (even less) 10 μOe. Measurement point has four eyes, like insects, with the diameter of each having 100 μm. It means that the magnetometer can be used for the magnetization analysis of local areas as low as 8,000 μ m 2. Sensing elements used in the sensor are in the form of metallic glass with high relative permeability (∼10,000) and low coercive field (<1 Oe). In addition to high sensitivity, it also has quite a large dynamical measurement range. The 2 nd harmonic voltage used as the sensor signal shows linear dependence on the applied field till almost 0.4 Oe. Such a large dynamical range facilitates its use in spacecraft applications, mine detection, earth skills, etc.