NSF Org:	AGS Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences
Recipient:	TRUSTEES OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY
Initial Amendment Date:	September 14, 2006
Latest Amendment Date:	September 14, 2006
Award Number:	0649818
Award Instrument:	Standard Grant
Program Manager:	Kile B. Baker AGS  Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences GEO  Directorate for Geosciences
Start Date:	October 1, 2006
End Date:	September 30, 2007 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount:	$50,000.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date:	$50,000.00
Funds Obligated to Date:	FY 2006 = $50,000.00
History of Investigator:	Joshua Semeter (Principal Investigator) jls@bu.edu Makhlouf Redjdal (Co-Principal Investigator)
Recipient Sponsored Research Office:	Trustees of Boston University 1 SILBER WAY BOSTON MA  US  02215-1703 (617)353-4365
Sponsor Congressional District:	07
Primary Place of Performance:	Trustees of Boston University 1 SILBER WAY BOSTON MA  US  02215-1703
Primary Place of Performance Congressional District:	07
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI):	THL6A6JLE1S7
Parent UEI:
NSF Program(s):	MAGNETOSPHERIC PHYSICS
Primary Program Source:	app-0106
Program Reference Code(s):	0000, 9237, OTHR
Program Element Code(s):	575000
Award Agency Code:	4900
Fund Agency Code:	4900
Assistance Listing Number(s):	47.050

ABSTRACT

This will build and field-test of prototype of a new class of 3-axis vector magnetometers for geophysical research. This new class of magnetometers is based on the giant magneto-impedance (GMI) effect. GMI magnetometers are now prevalent in manufacturing applications, the automotive industry, and even cell phones but they have not been adapted to the needs of geophysical research. The advantage of a magnetometer based on the GMI effect is that it can be made much smaller than current fluxgate magnetometers and would use much less power to operate. In addition, it is likely that GMI-based magnetometers could be manufactured at a much smaller cost than precision fluxgate magnetometers. The introduction of a cheap, reproducible, low-power alternative to standard fluxgate magnetometers will pave the way for a dense global network of scientific magnetometers, enabling a major improvement in the scientific efficacy of ground-based sensors for the study of magnetospheric phenomena.

This project will take a first critical step in adapting GMI technology for geophysical research. The scope of the project includes (1) building a suitable housing and platform for a prototype device, (2) developing basic data acquisition software, (3) field-testing the instrument in the auroral zone alongside an existing fluxgate magnetometer, and (4) reducing the data in order to perform a comparative evaluation of the suitability of GMI technology for ground-based investigations of magnetospheric phenomena. The GMI sensor is adapted from a sensor developed for deep sea applications under a collaborative effort between Boston University and MTI Limited (Mystic, CT). The field-test of the sensor will take place in Fairbanks, Alaska, where comparisons can be made with the Poker Flat magnetometer, which is part of the Geophysical Institute Magnetometer Array, as well as ancillary radio and optical diagnostics, including those associated with the Advanced Modular Incoherent Scatter Radar (AMISR) facility.

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