On the Impact of Thermal Gradients Across Fluxgate Sensors on In Situ Magnetic Field Measurements

Abstract

AbstractFluxgate magnetometers are an important tool for measuring space plasmas. In situ magnetic field investigations often involve measuring small perturbations of a large background field, so robust instrument calibration is critical to accurately resolving geophysical signals. Fluxgate instruments aboard recent space science missions have observed calibration anomalies that have been attributed to thermal gradients across the sensor. Here we present data from a laboratory experimental investigation of effects of thermal gradients on fluxgate calibration and performance. A purpose‐built laboratory apparatus fixed two thermal reservoirs at either end of a racetrack fluxgate sensor. Varying the reservoir temperatures allowed us to vary the sensor temperature and impose thermal gradients as large as 50°C across a racetrack fluxgate sensor. We find that changes in instrumental sensitivity, offset, and noise can be explained purely by changes in the average temperature of the sensor without a dependence on the difference in temperature across the sensor. We suggest that invoking concept of a static thermal gradient inducing thermoelectric currents within the fluxgate core or sensor may not be appropriate to explain changes in instrumental sensitivity, offset, and noise that have been observed on orbit.