MAGNETIC GRADIOMETER USING HIGH CRITICAL TEMPERATURE SUPERCONDUCTORS AND A FLUXGATE SENSOR

THIS IS A PROPOSAL RESEARCH LEADING TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW CLASS OF SUPERCONDUCTING MAGNETIC SENSORS UTILIZING HIGHTC COPPER OXIDE BASED SUPERCONDUCTORS. THEY ARE EXPECTED TO OFFER BETTER PERFORMANCE THAN NONSUPERCONDUCTING INSTRUMENTS, AT A MUCH LOWER COST THAN THAT OF PRESENT LOW TC INSTRUMENTS. THESE SENSORS COMBINE A SUPERCONDUCTING PICKUP LOOP, TOGETHER WITH NON-SUPERCONDUCTING FLUXGATE MAGNETOMETER. POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS ARE IN GEOMAGNETISM, INSTRUMENTS, SUCH AS SUSCEPTOMETERS, AND BIOMAGNETISM. THE TECHNOLOGY WHICH WE PLAN TO DEVELOP CAN BE APPLIED TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SQUID BASED SYSTEMS, IF HIGH TC SQUID'S BECOME PRACTICLE.