Helium vector magnetometer (HVM) of the Pioneer 10 and 11 spacecraft
A magnetometer is a device that measures magnetic field or magnetic dipole moment. Different types of magnetometers measure the direction, strength, or relative change of a magnetic field at a particular location. A compass is one such device, one that measures the direction of an ambient magnetic field, in this case, the Earth's magnetic field. Other magnetometers measure the magnetic dipole moment of a magnetic material such as a ferromagnet, for example by recording the effect of this magnetic dipole on the induced current in a coil.
The first magnetometer capable of measuring the absolute magnetic intensity at a point in space was invented by Carl Friedrich Gauss in 1833 and notable developments in the 19th century included the Hall effect, which is still widely used.
Magnetometers are widely used for measuring the Earth's magnetic field, in geophysical surveys, to detect magnetic anomalies of various types, and to determine the dipole moment of magnetic materials. In an aircraft's attitude and heading reference system, they are commonly used as a heading reference. Magnetometers are also used by the military as a triggering mechanism in magnetic mines to detect submarines. Consequently, some countries, such as the United States, Canada and Australia, classify the more sensitive magnetometers as military technology, and control their distribution.
Magnetometers can be used as metal detectors: they can detect only magnetic (ferrous) metals, but can detect such metals at a much greater distance than conventional metal detectors, which rely on conductivity. Magnetometers are capable of detecting large objects, such as cars, at over 10 metres (33 ft), while a conventional metal detector's range is rarely more than 2 metres (6 ft 7 in).
In recent years, magnetometers have been miniaturized to the extent that they can be incorporated in integrated circuits at very low cost and are finding increasing use as miniaturized compasses (MEMS magnetic field sensor).
A magnetometer is a device that measures magnetic field or magnetic dipole moment. Different types of magnetometers measure the direction, strength, or...
Spacecraft magnetometers are magnetometers used aboard spacecraft and satellites, mostly for scientific investigations, plus attitude sensing. Magnetometers are...
The Lunar Surface Magnetometer (LSM) was a lunar science experiment with the aim of providing insights into the interior of the Moon and how its latent...
A proton magnetometer, also known as a proton precession magnetometer (PPM), uses the principle of Earth's field nuclear magnetic resonance (EFNMR) to...
The Europa Clipper Magnetometer (ECM) is a spacecraft magnetometer aboard the planned Europa Clipper mission. It will be used to precisely measure Europa's...
relaxation-free (SERF) magnetometer is a type of magnetometer developed at Princeton University in the early 2000s. SERF magnetometers measure magnetic fields...
systems (MEMS) device for detecting and measuring magnetic fields (Magnetometer). Many of these operate by detecting effects of the Lorentz force: a...
coil magnetometer or induction magnetometer, based on an inductive sensor (also known as inductive loop and inductive coil), is a magnetometer which...
very sensitive magnetometers. Arrays of SQUIDs (superconducting quantum interference devices) are currently the most common magnetometer, while the SERF...
combination of accelerometers, gyroscopes, and sometimes magnetometers. When the magnetometer is included, IMUs are referred to as IMMUs. IMUs are typically...
Earth's magnetic field, the satellite had two magnetometers. The scalar (caesium vapor) and vector magnetometers gave Magsat a capability beyond that of any...
using a magnetometer aboard or towed behind an aircraft. The principle is similar to a magnetic survey carried out with a hand-held magnetometer, but allows...
000 years." Data and photographs collected by the Voyagers' cameras, magnetometers and other instruments revealed unknown details about each of the four...
fluid or electronic damping. An alternative is to use a 3-axis fluxgate magnetometer to provide a 3D flux vector, with the magnetic heading derived from the...
378-MHz beacon transmitter failure terminated the experiment. A fluxgate magnetometer was used to measure the component of the magnetic field parallel to the...
acquisition are possible: magnetometer moves in the measurement area (e.g. over tested object) tested object moves against the magnetometer array of magnetic...
watts power, extended from the main bus, along with two 183 cm (72 in) magnetometer booms. Four whip antennas are mounted on top of the spacecraft. A retrorocket...
If another coil is used to measure the magnetic field (acting as a magnetometer), the change in the magnetic field due to the metallic object can be...
Another cylinder, mounted on top of the pressurized compartment, held the magnetometer instrumentation package, associated electronics, the command receiver...
his practical works were the inventions of the heliotrope in 1821, a magnetometer in 1833 and, alongside Wilhelm Eduard Weber, the first electromagnetic...
SQUID (superconducting quantum interference device) is a very sensitive magnetometer used to measure extremely weak magnetic fields, based on superconducting...
acceleration. Gyroscope Detects spatial orientation. Magnetometer Similar to a compass, a magnetometer senses magnetic heading. Proximity sensor Detects...
magnetic reader (magnetometer) which measures the magnetic field change induced by the beads. The signal measured by the magnetometer is proportional to...
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