Automating the 2G superconducting rock magnetometer for single-solenoid alternating field demagnetization

We have automated a 2G Enterprises superconducting magnetometer to measure and demagnetize standard paleomagnetic samples. After loading a sample and setting the desired demagnetization steps, the operation is performed without further operator attention. Each of a sample's three axes is measured in both directions multiple times. A single solenoid performs three‐axis static demagnetization by rotating the specimen 120° about an oblique axis to each orthogonal position. This eliminates potential errors resulting from differences between the fields generated when using two orthogonal coils with different geometry. Each sample is handled only once, minimizing angular alignment errors. For initial sample moments 10–100 times the holder moment (i.e., natural remanent magnetizations greater than 10−3 A/m for standard size samples), very high quality AF demagnetization results can be obtained. The procedure for a complete, 10‐ to 20‐step alternating field (AF) demagnetization takes between 20 and 70 min, depending on the sample's moment. This automated system is complemented by a custom program that controls all system elements, including the magnetometer, AF demagnetizer, and sample handler that shuttles the sample between the two and also rotates the sample to the measurement positions. In addition, the controlling software includes tools for (1) sample parameter input and instant results recalculation upon parameter adjustment, (2) real‐time results visualization, (3) integrated Sun compass correction software, and (4) several demagnetization routines optimized for different magnitudes of magnetization. The software uses a very general and flexible, XML‐based file structure capable of storing an entire field study in one hierarchical file format, with levels for locality, site, sample, and demagnetization step. It serves as an electronic field notebook for recording many more parameters and comments than those strictly needed to measure the direction of the core.