Development and testing of new systems for field-referred measurement of magnetic Barkhausen noise at controllable magnetization conditions (BNcontrol)

Abstract

The project proposes an innovative development of systems for magnetic Barkhausen noise measurement. To clarify the main driving forces of the measured signal, a digital feedback loop will control the magnetization conditions: small flat samples will be tested at fixed field/induction waveforms. The magnetic field inside the samples will be determined directly by an extrapolation of a surface field profile measured by a vertical array of Hall sensors. This unique measurement approach was proved to stabilize the measurements of the magnetically open samples and is expected to provide physically accurate data with direct relation to the actual magnetization state. To investigate the problem of the signal pick-up, differently designed sensing units will be tested: laboratory sample-wrapping coils and industrial surface-mounted coils. The project will make a valuable contribution to the engineering field of magnetic measurements and their interpretation. The project outcomes will be presented for the academic magnetic community. If relevant, a patent application will be submitted.

The ultimate goal is to clarify and interpret the main driving forces of the Barkhausen noise signal at controllable magnetization conditions, to stabilize the measurement results to experimental variations and to define a way of the technique standardization at laboratory and industrial practices.