Phase-sensitive dc magnetometer based on magnetic–electromagnetic–magnetostrictive–piezoelectric heterostructure

A phase-sensitive dc magnetometer is developed by combining a pair of permanent magnets, an electromagnetic coil, and a magnetostrictive–piezoelectric laminate in one direction to form a four-phase magnetic–electromagnetic–magnetostrictive–piezoelectric heterostructure. The dc magnetic field sensing in the magnetometer is based on the detection of the phase difference between the off-resonance magnetoelectric voltage manipulated by the dc magnetic field to be measured and the resonance electric current referenced at zero dc magnetic field, both under a preset bias magnetic field. The theoretical and experimental results confirm a high and linear dc magnetic field sensitivity of –0.21 °/Oe over a positive and negative dc magnetic field range of ±150 Oe with a small nonlinearity of 1.7%. The magnetometer has the ability to determine dc magnetic field direction and its sensitivity is independent of zero-field resonance electric current amplitude.