Enabling stepwise transformation of low TRL space magnetometry
Lead Research Organisation:
Imperial College London
Department Name: Physics
Abstract
This proposal requests the procurement of three pieces of equipment
1. A three axis 1m Helmholtz calibration coil system with dynamic Earth's field compensation. This will be used for enhanced screening of emerging magnetic sensor technologies and magnetometer calibration, at present something we can only perform at external facilities. The system is off the shelf and includes a power amplifier and electronics control system.
2. Bespoke three-layer magnetic shielding tank manufactured from a special cryo-compatible mu-metal. It will be used during sensor thermal vacuum testing and its purpose is to enable the characterization of magnetic sensor performance in fully representative thermal space conditions on ground.
3. Network analyser. This is an off the shelf instrument that measures impedance across a wide frequency range. It will be used to measure the impedance of magnetic sensor and power converter control loops with the aim of increasing the measurement bandwidth of our magnetometers beyond their existing low frequency/DC range.
Each piece of equipment adds a new and distinct test capability to our laboratory and all of them will enable performance improvements in our space magnetometers.
1. A three axis 1m Helmholtz calibration coil system with dynamic Earth's field compensation. This will be used for enhanced screening of emerging magnetic sensor technologies and magnetometer calibration, at present something we can only perform at external facilities. The system is off the shelf and includes a power amplifier and electronics control system.
2. Bespoke three-layer magnetic shielding tank manufactured from a special cryo-compatible mu-metal. It will be used during sensor thermal vacuum testing and its purpose is to enable the characterization of magnetic sensor performance in fully representative thermal space conditions on ground.
3. Network analyser. This is an off the shelf instrument that measures impedance across a wide frequency range. It will be used to measure the impedance of magnetic sensor and power converter control loops with the aim of increasing the measurement bandwidth of our magnetometers beyond their existing low frequency/DC range.
Each piece of equipment adds a new and distinct test capability to our laboratory and all of them will enable performance improvements in our space magnetometers.
