Articles | Volume 13, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-13-249-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-13-249-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
01 Aug 2024
Research article |
| 01 Aug 2024
| 01 Aug 2024
First in situ measurements of the prototype Tesseract fluxgate magnetometer on the ACES-II-Low sounding rocket
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
Scott R. Bounds
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
Robert M. Broadfoot
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
Connor Feltman
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
Samuel J. Hisel
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
Ryan M. Kraus
Peraton, NASA Sounding Rockets Operations Contract, Wallops Island, VA, USA
Amanda Lasko
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
Antonio Washington
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
David M. Miles
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
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The ability to make reliable magnetic measurements in space is very important for a broad range of applications in space science. Here, we present the design and performance of a new magnetometer that looks very promising for making stable reliable magnetic measurements in space. We show that Tesseract performs better than the traditional ring-core design in metrics that are associated with stability.
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We present the experimental results of a new copper-based alloy suitable for use in high-precision magnetic sensing. It outperforms by providing lower magnetic noise and superior power consumption. Prototype sensors constructed from this material can meet an exacting standard, the 2012 1 s INTERMAGNET standard, for magnetic observatories.
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The Swarm-Echo Satellite carries two magnetometers that allow us to obtain two independent measurements of the changes that occur in the Earth's magnetic field during events such as aurora. Magnetometers must be independently calibrated to ensure they remain accurate. If no magnetic reference is available, a model magnetic field must be used. This paper discusses the method used to calibrate the magnetometers on Swarm-Echo and shows the improvements the calibration has made to the data product.
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The ability to make reliable magnetic measurements in space is very important for a broad range of applications in space science. Here, we present the design and performance of a new magnetometer that looks very promising for making stable reliable magnetic measurements in space. We show that Tesseract performs better than the traditional ring-core design in metrics that are associated with stability.
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We present an experiment intended to enable extremely low-noise magnetic field measurements. We manufactured fluxgate magnetometer cores using two metal alloys, two geometries, two foil thicknesses, and six different heat treatments and compared the resulting material properties, power consumption, and magnetic noise. Our results suggest that thinner foils, potentially using a new copper alloy, manufactured into continuous racetrack washers may provide excellent performance in fluxgate sensors.
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Short summary
Demonstrating the space flight capability of the next generation of precise, reliable magnetic field instruments is important for enabling future space science missions that will further our understanding of the connection between Earth's magnetic field and the Sun. Here, we present a new magnetic field instrument design called Tesseract, the results from its successful first space flight demonstration aboard a rocket, and its measurements of magnetic fields associated with the aurora.
Demonstrating the space flight capability of the next generation of precise, reliable magnetic...
