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At least 109 records · Page 6

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NASA NTRS1980

Lunar core detection using two surface magnetometers at very low frequency

A method is described which allows the analysis of the dipole component of the lunar induction using only measurements of two surface magnetometers. This is possible because the very low frequency of the relevant signal components limits the lunar response to the dipole partial wave. Because only surface magnetometers are necessary the simultaneous measurements made by the Apollo 15 and 16 surface modules can be used. Thus, additional information concerning the lunar transfer function can be applied to the determination of the existence and size of a metallic lunar core.

Herbert, F.↗

NASA NTRS1981

MAGSAT: Vector magnetometer absolute sensor alignment determination

A procedure is described for accurately determining the absolute alignment of the magnetic axes of a triaxial magnetometer sensor with respect to an external, fixed, reference coordinate system. The method does not require that the magnetic field vector orientation, as generated by a triaxial calibration coil system, be known to better than a few degrees from its true position, and minimizes the number of positions through which a sensor assembly must be rotated to obtain a solution. Computer simulations show that accuracies of better than 0.4 seconds of arc can be achieved under typical test conditions associated with existing magnetic test facilities. The basic approach is similar in nature to that presented by McPherron and Snare (1978) except that only three sensor positions are required and the system of equations to be solved is considerably simplified. Applications of the method to the case of the MAGSAT Vector Magnetometer are presented and the problems encountered discussed.

Acuna, M. H.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Investigation of MAGSAT and TRIAD magnetometer data to provide corrective information on high-lattitude external fields

Disturbances in the MAGSAT magnetometer data set due to high latitude phenomena were evaluated. Much of the categorization of disturbances due to Birkeland currents, ionospheric Hall currents, fine structure and wave phenomena was done with the MAGSAT data catalog. A color graphics technique was developed for the display of disturbances from multiple orbits, from which one can infer a 'global-image' of the current systems of the auroral zone. The MAGSAT 4/81 magnetic field model appears to represent the Earth's main field at high latitudes very well for the epoch 1980. MAGSAT's low altitude allows analysis of disturbances in the magnetometer data due to ionospheric electrojet currents. These current distributions were modeled properly for single events as a precursor to the inference of the Birkeland current system. MAGSAT's orbit was approximately shared with that of the Navy/APL TRIAD satellite. This allowed space-time studies of the magnetic disturbance signatures to be performed, the result being an approximately 75% agreement in, as well as high frequency of, signatures due to Birkeland currents. Thus the field-aligned currents are a steady-state participant in the Earth's magnetospheric current system.

Potemra, T. A.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Ionospheric and Birkeland current distributions inferred from the MAGSAT magnetometer data

Ionospheric and field-aligned sheet current density distributions are presently inferred by means of MAGSAT vector magnetometer data, together with an accurate magnetic field model. By comparing Hall current densities inferred from the MAGSAT data and those inferred from simultaneously recorded ground based data acquired by the Scandinavian magnetometer array, it is determined that the former have previously been underestimated due to high damping of magnetic variations with high spatial wave numbers between the ionosphere and the MAGSAT orbit. Among important results of this study is noted the fact that the Birkeland and electrojet current systems are colocated. The analyses have shown a tendency for triangular rather than constant electrojet current distributions as a function of latitude, consistent with the statistical, uniform regions 1 and 2 Birkeland current patterns.

Zanetti, L. J.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Three-dimensional analysis of magnetometer array data

A technique is developed for mapping magnetic variation fields in three dimensions using data from an array of magnetometers, based on the theory of optimal linear estimation. The technique is applied to data from the Scandinavian Magnetometer Array. Estimates of the spatial power spectra for the internal and external magnetic variations are derived, which in turn provide estimates of the spatial autocorrelation functions of the three magnetic variation components. Statistical errors involved in mapping the external and internal fields are quantified and displayed over the mapping region. Examples of field mapping and of separation into external and internal components are presented. A comparison between the three-dimensional field separation and a two-dimensional separation from a single chain of stations shows that significant differences can arise in the inferred internal component.

Richmond, A. D.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Estimation of electric fields and current from ground-based magnetometer data

Recent advances in numerical algorithms for estimating ionospheric electric fields and currents from groundbased magnetometer data are reviewed and evaluated. Tests of the adequacy of one such algorithm in reproducing large-scale patterns of electrodynamic parameters in the high-latitude ionosphere have yielded generally positive results, at least for some simple cases. Some encouraging advances in producing realistic conductivity models, which are a critical input, are pointed out. When the algorithms are applied to extensive data sets, such as the ones from meridian chain magnetometer networks during the IMS, together with refined conductivity models, unique information on instantaneous electric field and current patterns can be obtained. Examples of electric potentials, ionospheric currents, field-aligned currents, and Joule heating distributions derived from ground magnetic data are presented. Possible directions for future improvements are also pointed out.

Kamide, Y.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Set-up and demonstration of a Low Energy Electron Magnetometer (LEEM)

Described are the design, construction and test results of a Low Energy Electron Magnetometer (LEEM). The electron source is a commercial electron gun capable of providing several microamperes of electron beam. These electrons, after acceleration through a selected potential difference of 100-300 volts, are sent through two 30 degree second-order focussing parallel plate electrostatic analyzers. The first analyzer acts as a monochromator located in the field-free space. It is capable of providing energy resolution of better than 10 to the -3 power. The second analyzer, located in the test field region, acts as the detector for electrons deflected by the test field. The entire magnetometer system is expected to have a resolution of 1 part in 1000 or better.

Rayborn, G. H.↗

NASA NTRS1987

The Giotto magnetometer experiment

The Giotto magnetometer experiment employs a low-mass (1.357 kg), low-power (818 mW) instrument in a dual magnetometer configuration using flux gate sensors of the ring core type. It has provided accurate vector magnetic field measurements on its way to and near comet Halley, working flawlessly from switch-on on August 22, 1985 to the formal end of the mission on March 15, 1986.

Neubauer, F. M.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Construction of an alternating gradient magnetometer

A magnetometer is described which was constructed to facilitate the study and characterization of the magnetic properties of high transition temperature superconductors. This instrument was used to measure the dc magnetic susceptibility of several superconducting compounds as a function of temperature. The construction of the magnetometer and the operating parameters are discussed in detail.

Garland, Michael M.↗

NASA NTRS1995

Small Magnetometer

Small, lightweight, low-power magnetometer measures three-dimensional magnetic field. Includes three toroidal cores - one for each dimension. Exhibits high sensitivity, low zero-point drift, and low noise. Magnetometer circuit includes driver circuit and three analog signal-processing circuits. Output of analog signal-processing circuit proportional to one of components of external magnetic field.

Kuhnke, Falko↗

NASA NTRS1997

Attitude and Trajectory Determination using Magnetometers and Estimated Rates

A simultaneous attitude and orbit determination algorithm which uses magnetometer measurements and estimated attitude rates is presented. This is an extension of an algorithm which uses magnetometer and rate gyro measurements. The new algorithm is intended for gyroless spacecraft, or in the case of gyro failures/saturation. Torque control input data is used in forming the rate estimates. Simulation tests of the algorithm are presented. First, tests were performed using the 'true' rate values at each time step. This simulated using accurate gyro measurements. Then, tests were performed estimating the rates. Using estimated rates rather than 'gyro measurements' did not significantly degrade the algorithm's performance if accurate estimates of the initial rates were available. An initial Root-Sum-Square (RSS) position error of 1,400 km was reduced to an average error of approximately 100 km within the first two minutes. The RSS attitude error converged to less than 1.5 degrees within three orbits.

Schierman, J. D.↗

NASA NTRS1997

Internet Access to ISEE-1 and 2 Magnetometer Data

It is reported that the entire ISEE-1 and -2 magnetometer data are placed on-line, using an 8 Gbyte disk drive. The data are stored at 4-s and 60-s resolution. Also, an interactive world wide web page, which allows to plot, on request, any interval for which magnetometer data are available, is developed.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS1998

A Web Server for MACCS Magnetometer Data

NASA Grant NAG5-3719 was provided to Augsburg College to support the development of a web server for the Magnetometer Array for Cusp and Cleft Studies (MACCS), a two-dimensional array of fluxgate magnetometers located at cusp latitudes in Arctic Canada. MACCS was developed as part of the National Science Foundation's GEM (Geospace Environment Modeling) Program, which was designed in part to complement NASA's Global Geospace Science programs during the decade of the 1990s. This report describes the successful use of these grant funds to support a working web page that provides both daily plots and file access to any user accessing the worldwide web. The MACCS home page can be accessed at http://space.augsburg.edu/space/MaccsHome.html.

Engebretson, Mark J.↗

NASA NTRS1960

The Vector Field Proton Magnetometer for IGY Satellite Ground Stations

The application of homogeneous-bias fields to a proton precessional magnetometer allows the measurement of the vector field by measuring the absolute scalar field F, declination variations (Delta)D, and inclination variations (Delta)I. The absolute scalar field can be measured to an accuracy of +/- 1 gamma and absolute declination and inclination to an accuracy of +/- 2 minutes. This paper describes a vector proton magnetometer that has been in operation at nine Minitrack stations since the spring of 1958.

Shapiro, I. R.↗

NASA NTRS2000

A LEO Satellite Navigation Algorithm Based on GPS and Magnetometer Data

The Global Positioning System (GPS) has become a standard method for low cost onboard satellite orbit determination. The use of a GPS receiver as an attitude and rate sensor has also been developed in the recent past. Additionally, focus has been given to attitude and orbit estimation using the magnetometer, a low cost, reliable sensor. Combining measurements from both GPS and a magnetometer can provide a robust navigation system that takes advantage of the estimation qualities of both measurements. Ultimately a low cost, accurate navigation system can result, potentially eliminating the need for more costly sensors, including gyroscopes.

Deutschmann, Julie↗

NASA NTRS2001

A Leo Satellite Navigation Algorithm Based on GPS and Magnetometer Data

The Global Positioning System (GPS) has become a standard method for low cost onboard satellite orbit determination. The use of a GPS receiver as an attitude and rate sensor has also been developed in the recent past. Additionally, focus has been given to attitude and orbit estimation using the magnetometer, a low cost, reliable sensor. Combining measurements from both GPS and a magnetometer can provide a robust navigation system that takes advantage of the estimation qualities of both measurements. Ultimately, a low cost, accurate navigation system can result, potentially eliminating the need for more costly sensors, including gyroscopes. This work presents the development of a technique to eliminate numerical differentiation of the GPS phase measurements and also compares the use of one versus two GPS satellites.

Deutschmann, Julie↗

NASA NTRS2007

Optical Magnetometer Incorporating Photonic Crystals

According to a proposal, photonic crystals would be used to greatly increase the sensitivities of optical magnetometers that are already regarded as ultrasensitive. The proposal applies, more specifically, to a state-of-the-art type of quantum coherent magnetometer that exploits the electromagnetically-induced-transparency (EIT) method for determining a small change in a magnetic field indirectly via measurement of the shift, induced by that change, in the hyperfine levels of resonant atoms exposed to the field.

Kulikov, Igor↗

NASA NTRS2011

Miniature Laser Magnetometer

A conceptual design has been developed for a miniature laser magnetometer (MLM) that will measure the scalar magnitude and vector components of near-Earth magnetic fields. The MLM incorporates a number of technical innovations to achieve high-accuracy and high-resolution performance while significantly reducing the size of the laser-pumped helium magnetometer for use on small satellites and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). and electronics sections that has the capability of measuring both the scalar magnetic field magnitude and the vector magnetic field components. Further more, the high-accuracy scalar measurements are used to calibrate and correct the vector component measurements in order to achieve superior vector accuracy and stability. The correction algorithm applied to the vector components for calibration and the same cell for vector and scalar measurements are major innovations. The separate sensor and electronics section of the MLM instrument allow the sensor to be installed on a boom or otherwise located away from electronics and other noisy magnetic components. The MLM s miniaturization will be accomplished through the use of advanced miniaturized components and packaging methods for the MLM sensor and electronics. The MLM conceptual design includes three key innovations. The first is a new non-magnetic laser package that will allow the placement of the laser pump source near the helium cell sensing elements. The second innovation is the design of compact, nested, triaxial Braunbek coils used in the vector measurements that reduce the coil size by a factor of two compared to existing Helmholtz coils with similar field-generation performance. The third innovation is a compact sensor design that reduces the sensor volume by a factor of eight compared to MLM s predecessor.

Slocum, Robert↗