Measuring Instrument, Electrical Resistance Elements and Measuring System for Measuring Time-Variable Magnetic Fields or Field Gradients

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This invention describes a novel measuring instrument and related system for detecting time-varying magnetic fields or magnetic field gradients. The core technology includes a flux transformer made from a superconducting material containing a precisely engineered resistive region, which allows for the controlled dissipation of electrical energy within the system. The components are arranged in a planar form, often using thin superconducting films structured by photolithography, and make use of extremely low-resistance elements. This approach enables the measurement of magnetic field changes across a wide frequency range, with improved sensitivity and reduced noise compared to conventional devices, especially in environments where interference from static or slowly varying magnetic fields is a problem.

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• Biomagnetic measurements, such as magnetoencephalography (MEG) for studying brain activity or cardiomagnetic measurements for heart research.
• Geomagnetic surveys for earth science studies, including detecting anomalies or monitoring geophysical changes.
• Non-destructive material testing, such as inspection for flaws or defects in critical engineering materials.
• Fundamental research in material science, particularly studying materials exhibiting superconductivity or unique electromagnetic properties.
• Integration into quantum computing circuits or advanced superconducting electronic devices where low-noise and low-resistance elements are required.
• Development of highly sensitive magnetic field sensors for scientific instruments and laboratory applications.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Significantly increased measurement sensitivity for weak, time-varying magnetic signals due to the optimized superconducting flux transformer with low-resistance dissipation regions.
• Greatly reduced noise levels, especially at low frequencies, improving detection accuracy for biomagnetic and geomagnetic applications.
• Expanded frequency range for measurement, allowing detection from well below 1 Hz up to 1 MHz, covering both slow and fast magnetic phenomena.
• Improved dynamic range and mitigation of interference from large static or slowly-varying background magnetic fields, which often saturate traditional sensors.
• Planar, thin-film design allows for miniaturization and compatibility with IC manufacturing techniques (e.g., photolithography), potentially reducing costs and enhancing scalability.
• Versatile and customizable electrical resistance elements, suitable for various advanced applications, including next-generation superconducting electronics and quantum devices.

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Patent Abstract

The invention relates to a measuring instrument for time-variable magnetic fluxes or flux gradients, to electrical resistance elements and to a measuring system having a measuring instrument or electrical resistance element according to the invention. The centrepiece of the measuring instrument is a flux transformer made of a base material which has a phase transition to the superconducting state. According to the invention, when the base material is in the superconducting state, this flux transformer also has at least one load region with an electrical resistance different from zero for dissipating the electrical energy in the conductor loop thereof. In this case, the conductor loop and the magnetic field source are arranged in a plane according to the invention and are generally photolithographically patterned. The resistance elements according to the invention with resistance values of = 10-4 O can be used as the core component in the measuring instrument. The invention enables measurements in a wider frequency range, with less noise and with greater sensitivity than was possible with measuring instruments or measuring systems of the generic type.