Geomagnetic absolute observation by applied vector proton method

Abstract

A new method of absolute observation of three geomagnetic field components by a device composed of a geomagnetic total force magnetometer combined with three orthogonal coils to produce a compensating magnetic field was investigated. A vector proton method is an excellent method to measure vector components of geomagnetic fields; however it cannot serve as a magnetic absolute observation because of the inclination of the compensating coil and its fluctuation over time. This study considered a new method based on the vector proton method. Absolute magnetic fields and orientation of compensating coils are calculated from measured values of magnetic total forces for certain patterns of artificial magnetic fields added to each component by the three orthogonal compensating coils. Assuming that resolution and stability of the geomagnetic total force magnetometer and electric current through the coils are adequate, three components of geomagnetic absolute fields could be measured by the new method with a degree of precision comparable to magnetometers in current use.