DEVELOPMENT OF AN AUTOMATED SUPERCONDUCTIVE ROCK MAGNETOMETER AND PERIPHERAL DEVICES

HERNANDEZ NICOLÁS; VAZQUEZ MANSILLA M. ; JULIO GUIMPEL; CRISTALLINI, E.O., BOTTESI, G., GAVARRINO, A., RODRIGUEZ, L., TOMEZZOLI, R.N., Y COMERON, R.,; GOMEZ BERISSO M.; TOMEZZOLI R.N.; PEDRAZZINI PABLO; LUZURIAGA J.; TRINDADE, R.I.F.

Congreso; 6° Reunión Bienal de la Asociación Latinoamericana de Paleomagnetismo y Geomagnetismo (LATINMAG); 2019

Asociación Latinoamericana de Paleomagnetismo y Geomagnetismo

We present a new automated, liquid-He-free superconductive rock magnetometer (SRM) developed by a joint-venture project under the name CriAr, in which two public research institutions (CONICET and CNEA) and LATE ANDES, a private-public company, were involved. The system is capable of performing fully automated measurements in 120 samples, with stepwise alternating field (AF) demagnetization applying peak fields of up to 160 mT in the current configuration. DC SQUID sensors in the prototype show noise levels less than (1x10^-4) Φ0 (flux quanta), equivalent to 1x10^-9 emu for the device. Three different ranges are automatically selected by the system depending on the remanent magnetization of the sample, allowing to measure samples in an extended range of five orders of magnitude. Three pairs of Helmholtz?s coils were built to perform real-time of Earth?s magnetic field cancelling in the sample tray area. Resulting magnetic field is always less than 700 nT. CriAr magnetometer is controlled by an in-house-developed software that integrates the control of the automated sample handling system, data acquisition from SQUID sensors, graphic display of results, AF demagnetization control, He compressor and field cancelling system control and monitoring. The software also allows to export results for visualization in popular software commonly used for postprocessing. Know-how in superconductivity, cryogenics, vacuum techniques, magnetic shieldings from public research institutions was a key factor for the development of the system. The system is intended to provide services to the oil and gas industry and the scientific community. Release of a commercial product is also under analysis.