GELLER Labs "Backyard Science"
Thoughts on a proton precession magnetometer design - a Proton Magnetometer Project. Build an Earth's field magnetometer.
The FDM MAGNETOMETER1 project is a low cost high performance proton magnetometer (a digital magnetometer) kit under development for universities and amateur scientists to be able to accurately measure and monitor changes in the Earth's total magnetic F field and to observe geomagnetic storms. Magnetic storms can cause large excursions in the field and are of concern to interests ranging from electrical power grids, radio communications, and satellite operations, to aurora watchers and amateur radio operators.
1 Filter Diagonalization Method "FDM" (harmonic inversion), see Jan 21 and Jan 23 entries, based on: Vladimir A. Mandelshtam, Howard S. Taylor, Harmonic inversion of time signals and its applications, Journal of Chemical Physics (1997), Volume 107, Issue 17, 1997, Pages 6756-6769
(be sure to hit refresh to pick up our latest changes and entries)
Project Documentation, Links and References (very early stages)
Journal Notes:
Monday, January 31, 2011
Overnight: PDF, TXT, continued quiet with spikes caused by the usual Monday morning garbage trucks. The precession signal is noticably shorter due to outside air temperatures near 0 F (-18 C). Evening: There was a sightly disturbed period early evening, well below storm levels, yet noticable in contrast with the recent geomagnetic quiet periods. PDF NOAA Costello PDF.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011 - K4 event (at Boulder)
Overnight: PDF, TXT Afternoon: There has been some interesting geomagentic activity this afternoon, albeit at sub-storm levels: PDF, NRCan OTT (Ottawa) PDF, NOAA Costello Geomagnetic Index PDF. Evening: all kinds of interesting minor activity today PDF.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Here is a sample Excel spread sheet for noise testing of the narrow band low noise amplifier (NBLNA) using resistors and excess Johnson noise (See the partial article on NBLNA testing). Our present recommendation for NBLNA gain (2" or 2.5" inch coils) is in the range of 275,000 to 300,000.
Thursday, February 3, 2011 - K4 event (at Boulder)
Overnight: PDF, TXT, the geomagnetic field was very quiet overnight. Late evening, some activity (K4) PDF, SWN (the auroral area has dropped a bit towards the US). PDF
Friday, February 4, 2011 - G1 Storm
Overnight: PDF, TXT The geomagnetic field was somewhat active (K4 at Boulder, CO) overnight, perhaps less so here in upstate NY. 7 day NOAA Costello Index PDF. The geomagnetic week in review PDF.
Afternoon: Something interesting might be afoot, PDF, SWN PDF, NOAA Costello PDF. I switched from a two minute measurement rate to a 30 second measurement rate (to better view any relatively fast changes associated with this potential K5 (minor storm?) event). So far, there is nothing very exciting happing concerning the F scalar here in upstate, NY PDF. maybe spoke too soon (3:31 pm) PDF. Now (4:20 pm) the NOAA SWN warning back down to K4 SWN PDF, back to the regular 2 minute measurement cycle, nothing very dramatic happening PDF. The NOAA K index is calling K6 for the global index PDF, while SWN is calling the event K4 (perhaps in Boulder) PDF. This event is appears to be less strong, so far, here in upstate, NY, although now the F scalar field has increased by about 30 nT. So far (5:17 pm) there have few high slope changes or fast events within the disturbance, although a relaitvely sharp downturn is beginning now. PDF more detail at 5 nT/div and on an expanded time scale PDF, PDF . comparing the event so far (6:07 pm) to the diurnal cycle of the last couple of days PDF . Comparing out magnetogram (6:28 pm) PDF PDF with NRCan OTT PDF. SWN is calling it a G1 event now PDF (These indices can be confusing since they can be both geographically initiated as well as based on long term (hours) averages.) Now (7:18 pm) a very fast drop off (still just over 10 nT, mild in magnitude compared to some past G2 storms (e.g. Aug. 3, 2010 PDF, but now far more storm like none-the-less) PDF. I think that's about it for now PDF (we might have a few small vehicle associated offsets mixed in there, especially that last small step) Going back now (9:52 pm) to our regular 2 minute measurement cycle. Here are a couple of plots showing the same event as observed by Carl with the FDM magnetometer that he built and is operating in Colorado Springs, CO (thanks!) PDF PDF. It is interesting how some geomagnetic events are very similar in waveshape across wide geographic areas, and others, as in this afternoon and evening's geomagnetic storm can look quite different across a single continent. The field is still rising about 5 nT as I write this, perhaps there are few more small impulses to come as this event winds down. 12:24 am (2/5) PDF TXT.
Saturday, February 5, 2011 - Improved NBLNA Noise Worksheet!
Overnight: PDF, TXT few day view showing yesterday's G1 storm and the beginning of the normal diurnal cycle this morning PDF. NOAA Costello 7 day index PDF.
Improved the NBLNA effective noise bandwidth worksheet: (Updated again 2/13/2011; The link to the current noise worksheet can be found with the Part V article on our Articles page.)
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Last couple of days: PDF, TXT There was one relatively large vehicle offset from just after noon today to just before 2 pm PDF.
Project Documentation, Links and References (very early stages)
QUESTIONS/COMMENTS/notice of typos, etc. send email to joegeller @ gellerlabs dot com
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