Magnetic Sensors with Picotesla Magnetic Field Sensitivity at Room Temperature
Abstract
High sensitivity magnetic sensors will have a significant impact on security, industry, and quality of life. Many of these applications require sensitivities better than 1 nT/Hz1/2 as well as low cost, small size, low maintenance, and low power consumption. This project is to develop highly sensitive magnetic sensors that fit the goal of the MMSON-07-03 Statement of Need. This need is to develop novel sensors applicable to the diverse detection and discrimination problems of munitions and explosives of concern (MEC) contaminated sites. We present a design of a low power, compact, magnetoresistive sensor. The key features of the design are (1) decreasing the noise by the use of a 64 element bridge, (2) reducing the magnetic noise by annealing of MTJ in high magnetic field and a hydrogen environment, and (3) increasing signal by the use of external low-noise magnetic flux concentrators. The field noise of our prototype magnetic sensor are approximately 1 pT/Hz1/2 at 1 kHz, 5 pT/Hz1/2 at 10 Hz, and 50 pT/Hz1/2 at 1 Hz at room temperature. The magnetic sensor only dissipates 15 mW of power while operating.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA495594
Entities
People
- Sy-hwang Liou
Organizations
- University of Nebraska–Lincoln