Magnetometer sensor
A magnetometer is a scientific instrument used to measure
the strength and direction of the magnetic field in the vicinity of
the instrument. Magnetism varies from place to place because of
differences in Earth’s magnetic field caused by the differing
nature of rocks and the interaction between charged particles
from the sun and the magnetosphere of a planet.
A magnetometer or compass is a navigation instrument that can
identify a specific
reference direction (usually the north) in the horizontal plane, allowing horizontal
angles to be measured with respect to this direction.
Principle and Classification of Magnetometers
Magnetometers can be classified according to different criteria. According to its physical
effects, magnetometers can be classified as follows: sensors made according to Faraday’s
electromagnetic induction law are called induction magnetometers; magnetometers working by
the principle that current in the magnetic field can generate a Lorentz force are called magnetic
magnetometers; where the resistivity of the conductor changes in the magnetic field, this type
of sensor is called a magnetoresistive magnetometer; magnetometers based on the Faraday
magneto-optical effect are called magneto-optical magnetometers, such as the optical pump
magnetometer
There are also point field sensors that can measure a point of magnetic field information in
space and magnetometers that can only measure the average magnetic field information in a
certain region in space, which is related to the size of the sensitive element of the
magnetometer. However, there are no uniform criteria for this classification. If it is small
enough for the size of the sensitive direction of the sensitive element compared to the range
measurement, we can consider that it is capable to measurement as a point magnetic field.
Types of magnetometer
The Magnetometer experiment for the Juno orbiter for Juno can be seen here on the end
of a boom. The spacecraft uses two fluxgate magnetometers.
There are two basic types of magnetometer measurement. Vector magnetometers
measure the vector components of a magnetic field. Total field magnetometers or scalar
magnetometers measure the magnitude of the vector magnetic field .Magnetometers used to
study the Earth's magnetic field may express the vector components of the field in terms of
declination (the angle between the horizontal component of the field vector and magnetic
north) and the inclination (the angle between the field vector and the horizontal surface).
Absolute magnetometers measure the absolute magnitude or vector magnetic field, using an
internal calibration or known physical constants of the magnetic sensor.[6] Relative magnetometers
measure magnitude or vector magnetic field relative to a fixed but uncalibrated baseline. Also called
variometers, relative magnetometers are used to measure variations in magnetic field.
Magnetometers may also be classified by their situation or intended use. Stationary magnetometers are
installed to a fixed position and measurements are taken while the magnetometer is stationary.
Portable or mobile magnetometers are meant to be used while in motion and may be manually carried
or transported in a moving vehicle. Laboratory magnetometers are used to measure the magnetic field
of materials placed within them and are typically stationary. Survey magnetometers are used to
measure magnetic fields in geomagnetic surveys
