Low-frequency rotational isolator for airborne exploration

Abstract

We have determined the performance of a passive rotational vibration isolator for a time-domain airborne electromagnetic (TDEM) receiver. The isolator uses neutrally buoyant flotation to provide very soft suspension and a very low resonant frequency of 0.065 Hz ± 0.005 Hz. One of the limitations of mapping deeper targets in areas of conductive overburden with TDEM systems is that low-frequency coil-vibration noise provides a lower bound to the transmitter base frequency (typically limited to 25 Hz). The purpose of this new isolator is to improve coil vibration related noise between 5 and 20 Hz to allow the transmitter base frequency to be reduced. A fixed-wing flight test determined that a receiver inside the new isolator had five times less rotational noise at 10 Hz than a current commercial system.