A magnetometer is an instrument that measures magnetic field strength or magnetic dipole moment, used across geophysics, space science and materials research to detect and characterize magnetic fields.
Facts
Invented YearCarl Friedrich Gauss's 1832 instrument, a bar magnet suspended horizontally from a gold fibre to measure the strength of Earth's magnetic field, is generally credited as the first magnetometer. MeasuresMagnetic field strength, and in vector instruments, its direction. 1 Operating PrincipleDetects the direction, strength or relative change of a magnetic field at a given location, historically via the deflection or oscillation of a suspended magnet and, in modern instruments, via induction, Hall-effect or fluxgate sensors. 1 ResolutionSQUID magnetometers reproducibly achieve femtotesla resolutions in optimized laboratory settings. 1 Operating RangeEarth's magnetic field varies from about 20,000 to 80,000 nanotesla depending on location. 1 Classification
Instrument ClassMeasurement or Metrology Instrument 1 Connections
Invented By
Source Magnetometer (Wikipedia)
Used In
Geophysics, Disciplines Magnetometers are widely used for measuring the Earth's magnetic field in geophysical surveys.
Source Magnetometer (Wikipedia)
Sources
1. Magnetometer (Wikipedia)
WikipediaLead section
A magnetometer is a device that measures magnetic field (B) or magnetic dipole moment.
History section
In 1833, Carl Friedrich Gauss, head of the Geomagnetic Observatory in Gottingen, published a paper on measurement of the Earth's magnetic field.
Overview section
Inductive pickup coils measure the magnetic dipole moment of a material by detecting the current induced in a coil due to the changing magnetic moment of the sample.
Laboratory section
SQUID magnetometry is an extremely sensitive absolute magnetometry technique, reproducibly achieving femtotesla resolutions in optimized laboratory settings.
Introduction section
The Earth's magnetic field can vary from 20000 to 80000 nT depending on location
Lede, instrument class
A magnetometer is an instrument that measures magnetic field strength or magnetic dipole moment, used across geophysics, space science and materials research to detect and characterize magnetic fields.
- Invented By: Carl Friedrich Gauss
Used In: Geophysics, Applications section
Magnetometers are widely used for measuring the Earth's magnetic field, in geophysical surveys, to detect magnetic anomalies of various types.
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