The Laboratory is equipped with three different systems for the characterization of magnetic materials:
- Vibrating Sample Magnetometer, VSM
- SQUID ( Superconducting Quantum Interference Device) Magnetometer
- Permeagraph
The vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) is used for characterization of magnetic powders. It is equipped with two sources of magnetic field up to 1.5 T and 7 T respectively. Measurements can be done starting from the room temperature down to 4 K (-269 C). Magnetic moment can be measured in the range of 1000 - 10-5 emu.
The SQUID magnetometer is currently the most sensitive and advanced technique used for magnetization measurements. It is used to characterize materials with very low magnetization. Its measurement range is between 1.25 - 10-8 emu, the sensitivity is 1000 times higher than that of the VSM magnetometer. Measurements can be done in magnetic field up to 5 T and in the temperature range from the room temperature down 2.2 K.
A permeagraph is a device designed primarily for the industrial use. It is ideal for the characterization of permanent magnets having a specific geometry, which are used in everyday life. Magnetic fields up to 2.2 T can be created in the device.
The magnetooptic system is used for visualization and local measurements of magnetization in magnetic stripe cards (thick magnetic films). This system enables one to perform magnetic mapping and local magnetic field measurements with the spatial resolution of 1 mm.
For calibration of magnetometers, there are single axis and three axis Helmholtz coils and a solenoid type high field coil. The traceability of these coils is taken from the NMR Teslameter, which is our primary standard of magnetic field.