SQUID-magnetometer with open-ended horizontal room-temperature access

A new, SQUID-based magnetometer has been developed for measurements of remanent and induced magnetisation. The advantage of this system compared to conventional SQUID-magnetometers is its horizontal access to the sensing coils. The access at room temperature is open at both ends. Main benefits of the horizontal access are a better accessibility to the space inside the sensing coils and the possibility for performing measurements on very long samples and materials which are transported through the access. The prototype model that the authors' constructed has a dipole sensitivity of 3*10-11 Am2 square root Hz and a response time constant of 8 ms. Design considerations and possibilities to improve the system are described