MICROFABRICATION OF TUNNELING TIP MAGNETOMETERS

PREVIOUSLY DESIGNED MAGNETOMETERS USING A TUNNELING-TIP TO MEASURE MAGNETOSTRICTIVE EXPANSIONS HAVE IMPORTANT LIMITATIONS INCLUDING HIGH SENSITIVITY TO VIBRATION AND TEMPERATURE. THIS WORK WILL DESIGN A MICROFABRICATED MAGNETOMETER BASED ON THESE SAME PRINCIPLES THAT HAS MANY ADVANTAGES OVER THE PREVIOUS DESIGNS. THESE BENEFITS INCLUDE LOW VIBRATION AND TEMPERATURE SENSITIVITY, LOW COSTS, SMALL ENVELOPE AND LOW POWER CONSUMPTION. LOW VIBRATION SENSITIVITY RESULTS FROM HIGHER STIFFNESS OF MICROFABRICATED COMPONENTS. TEMPERATURE SENSITIVITY IS REDUCED THROUGH A MECHANICAL DESIGN THAT USES THE HIGH REPRODUCIBILITY OF MICROFABRICATED FEATURES. THE WORK WILL BE DIVIDED INTO FIVE TASKS: 1. DESIGN OF THE MAGNETOSTRICTIVE AND ACTUATING COMPONENTS, 2. SELECTION OF APPROPRIATE PROCESSES, 3. PRODUCTION OF PROCESS SAMPLES, 4. IDENTIFICATION OF REQUIRED TUNNELING ELECTRONICS, AND 5. EXPLORATION OF MODULATION TECHNIQUES. THIS PROJECT WILL RESULT IN THE DESIGN OF A MICROFABRICATABLE MAGNETOMETER WITH SUPERIOR MAGNETIC AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES USING STATE-OF-THE-ART PROCESSES. NEW APPLICATIONS MAY INCLUDE HIGH VIBRATION ENVIRONMENTS SUCH AS AIRCRAFT AND SURVEILLANCE OF LARGE AREAS AS FREE-STANDING ANOMALY SENSORS.