SQUID systems for geophysical time domain electromagnetics (TEM) at IPHT Jena

in: IEICE Transactions on Electronics (2015)
Chwala, Andreas; Stolz, Ronny; Schmelz, Matthias; Zakosarenko, Vyacheslav; Meyer, Matthias; Meyer, Hans-Georg
Forty years after the first applications of Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices (SQUIDs) [1][2] for geophysical purposes they have recently become a valued tool for mineral exploration. One of the most common applications is domain (or transient) electromagnetics (TEM), an active method, where the inductive response from the ground to a changing current (mostly rectangular) in a loop on the surface is measured. After the current in the transmitter coil is switched, eddy currents are excited in the ground, which are decaying depending on the conductivity of the underlying geologic structure. The resulting secondary magnetic field at the surface is measured during the off-time by a receiver coil (induced voltage) or by a magnetometer (e.g. SQUID or fluxgate). The recorded transient quality is improved by stacking positive and negative decays. These TEM results can be inverted and give the electric conductivity of the ground over depth. Since SQUIDs measure the magnetic field with high sensitivity and constant frequency transfer function, they show a superior performance compared to conventional induction coils, especially in the presence of very good conductors. As the primary field, and especially its slew rate, are quite big, SQUID systems need to have a large slew rate and dynamic range. Any flux jump would make the use of standard stacking algorithms impossible. IPHT and Supracon are developing and producing SQUID systems based on low temperature superconductors (LTS, in our case niobium), which are now state-of-the-art. Due to the large demand, we are supplying system with high temperature superconductors (HTS, in our case YBCO) as well. While the low temperature SQUID systems have a better performance (noise and slew rate), the high temperature SQUID systems are easier to handle in the field. The superior performance of SQUIDs compared to induction coils is the most important thing for the detection of good conductors at large depth or ore bodies underneath conductive overburden.

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