Simulation and calibration of an open inductive sensor for pulsed field magnetization measurements

The relation between the voltage induced in an open sensor and the magnetic moment of a sample during pulsed field magnetization measurements has been calculated. The calculation takes into account the size of a sample, its i nternal flux distribution, and its position with respect to the center of t he sensor. It has been found that the behavior of the response signal with respect to the sample position is the same for homogeneously magnetized Ni samples and high temperature superconductors. Because of this universality, it is possible to calibrate the open sensor even in the case of an unfavor able sample geometry. The calculations have been experimentally verified by using Ni samples with different geometries. Our results can easily be exte nded to samples with an arbitrary local field distribution. (C) 1999 Americ an Institute of Physics. [S0034-6748(99)01606-8].