Magnetic field spectrum analyzer using nonlinear magnetoelectric effect in composite ferromagnet - piezoelectric heterostructure

Industrial machines and mechanisms, household appliances, natural sources and biological objects generate weak magnetic fields with amplitudes of ~10–12 – 10–4 T in the frequency band of ~1–105Hz. Analysis of the fields’ characteristics allows to get information about internal processes and performance of these sources in a non-contact way, to carry out medical diagnostics. This makes topical the development of low-frequency magnetic field spectrum analyzers. The paper describes a spectrum analyzer of a new type using nonlinear effect of magnetic field mixing in a composite ferromagnet-piezoelectric heterostructure. The main element of the analyzer is a magnetic field mixer which contains a piezoelectric langatate single-crystal sandwiched between two layers of a magnetostrictive amorphous alloy. With simultaneous action of the measured magnetic field and the excitation magnetic field on the structure and fulfillment of the frequency matching conditions, the structure generates a voltage at the electromechanical resonance frequency. Swept-tuned spectrum analysis of the measured field is carried out by tuning the frequency of the excitation field. A prototype of the analyzer is fabricated and characterized. It operates in the frequency band of 0.1–85 kHz, has a frequency resolution of ~40 Hz, a minimum detectable field of 50 nT, and a dynamic range of 35 dB. Possibilities to improve characteristics of magnetic field spectrum analyzers are discussed. [Display omitted] •A new swept-tuned spectrum analyzer of magnetic fields is proposed.•The analyzer uses resonant magnetoelectric effect of magnetic field frequency mixing.•A prototype of the spectrum analyzer is fabricated and characterized.