Radiation resistant magnetic field sensor

All high power target facilities and accelerators, especially the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB), require magnetic field sensors to measure magnetic fields in various magnets employed at these facilities as well as in cyclotrons. The currently used and/or commercially available sensors show only limited radiation resistance and in general require replacement every 3-4 months, resulting in, on average, two days per year of lost facility operation. Since a similar problem persists with other domestic and international accelerator facilities, the solution of such a problem will result in significant savings to both the scientific community and taxpayers. MicroXact, Inc. is proposing to develop a new type of fiber optic magnetic field sensor and instrumentation that will be small, sensitive, inexpensive and radiation resistant. Proposed sensors and instrumentation will work for years without the need for frequent replacement and/or recalibration. In Phase I MicroXact will experimentally verify the feasibility of the proposed approach by fabricating 1st generation sensor prototype, assembling bread-board interrogation instrumentation and testing the sensor material in relevant environment. In Phase II MicroXact will develop and test stand-alone sensors and instruments. At the end of Phase II one set of interrogation instrument and calibrated sensor will be delivered to FRIB for actual use. After completion of Phase II, MicroXact will commercialize the developed technology. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: The proposed solution is expected to meet or exceed all the requirements of FRIB and other facilities for radiation resistant magnetic field sensing. The proposed sensors are expected to function for years without the need for replacement or recalibration, thus saving US taxpayers and the scientific community significant sums (many $millions annually if counting all US accelerator and tokamak facilities) currently spent on magnetic field sensor replacements. Sensors and instruments developed on this program are expected to find multiple applications in magnetic field sensing for accelerator facilities, fusion reactors (ITER, etc.), as well as NMR and MRI instruments where zero RF emission of such sensors is highly beneficial.