Skip to main content
  • Article
  • Published:

On the calibration of a vectorial 4He pumped magnetometer

Abstract

The prototype of a 4He pumped vector magnetometer is presented. Large auxiliary coils systems used in previously developed apparatus to allow vector measurements from a scalar (atomic or nuclear resonance) sensor are replaced by a light triaxial modulation system associated with advanced techniques of signal processing. The performances of the helium scalar sensor are first briefly recalled; then the principle of the vector measurement, obtained by adding three (approximately) orthogonal modulations of different frequencies (all of the order of 10 Hz) is explained. Afterwards a second part of the paper is devoted to the calibration process, and a first estimate of the performances of the vector magnetometer is obtained. They confirm that this instrument could be a good candidate for an automatic absolute magnetic observatory: after the calibration process completion and a proper installation, it would provide by itself the absolute value of three orthogonal components of the field. In addition to that, the 4He vector magnetometer appears to be also promising for space applications.

References

  • Alldredge, L. R., A proposed automatic standard magnetic observatory, J. Geophys. Res., 65, N11, 3777–3786, 1960.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alldredge, L. R. and I. Saldukas, An automatic standard magnetic observatory, J. Geophys. Res., 69, N10, 1963–1970, 1964.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Colegrove, F. D. and L. D. Schearer, Optical pumping of helium in the 3S1 metastable state Physical Review, 119, 680–690, 1961.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guttin, C, J.-M. Léger, and F. Stoeckel, Realization of an isotropic scalar magnetometer using optically pumped helium 4, Journal de Physique III, 4, 655–659, 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  • Merayo, M. G., P. Brauer, F. Primdhal, J. R. Petersen, and O. V. Nielsen, Scalar calibation of vector magnetometer, Meas. Sci. Technol., 11, 120–132, 2000.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nielsen, O. V, J. R. Petersen, F. Primdhal, P. Brauer, B. Hernando, A. Fernández, M. G. Merayo, and P. Ripka, Development, construction and analysis of the Orsted fluxgate magnetometer, Meas. Sci. Technol., 6, 1099–1115, 1995.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Olsen, N., L. Toffner-Clauden, T. Risbo, P. Brauer, J. Merayo, F. Primdhal, and T. Sabaka, In-Flight calibration methods used for the Oersted mission, in ESA SP on Space Magnetometer Calibration, 2000.

  • Press, C., S. Teukolsky, W. Vetterling, and B. Flannery, Numerical Recipes in C. Second edition, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rasson, J. L., Proceedings of the VIth Workshop on Geomagnetic Observatory Instruments Data Acquisition and Processing, publication scientifique et technique n 003, Institut Royal Météorologique de Belgique, Avenue Circulaire 3, B-1180 Bruxelles.

  • Trigg, D. F. and R. L. Coles, Intermagnet, technical reference manual, 1999.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Gravrand, O., Khokhlov, A., Le Mouël, J.L. et al. On the calibration of a vectorial 4He pumped magnetometer. Earth Planet Sp 53, 949–958 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03351692

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03351692

Keywords