Collaborative Research: Development of a High Resolution Vector Scanning SQUID Microscope for Paleomagnetism

该合作基金（连同EAR-0549521； PI Baudenbacher）支持矢量扫描超导量子干涉装置（SQUID）显微镜（VSSM）的开发。VSSM将以更高的空间分辨率测量磁场的所有三个组成部分，并且比现在使用以前开发的单组件超高分辨率扫描SQUID显微镜（UHRSSM）更容易使用，该显微镜位于Joe Kirschvink的加州理工学院古磁学实验室中。UHRSSM主要由Franz Baudenbacher在以前的EAR/IF支持（EAR-0004101）下开发。UHRSSM已被证明可以测量室温样品表面上方磁场的垂直分量，其矩灵敏度优于10-15 Am2（比市售超导岩石磁力计灵敏三个数量级），空间分辨率为亚毫米。VSSM将支持对剩磁太弱而无法通过标准岩石磁力计技术测量的样品的研究，或者对剩磁成分的高（亚毫米到微米）空间分辨率可能对获得磁场时的古环境条件产生新的见解的研究，或者对样本量极为有限的研究。例如，行星材料的古地磁研究和陆地冥古宙锆石的研究，可以揭示磁场演化的时间，超高分辨率磁地层学，以及细粒材料中单个磁性矿物载体的阐明。开发涉及地球科学家/行星科学家（Weiss）和物理学家（Baudenbacher）以及私营部门合作伙伴之间的合作，他们将制造微型（120平方米）SQUID传感器，该传感器将用于新的VSSM。新的VSSM技术将被移植到西部（加州理工学院）和东部（麻省理工学院）地球科学部门现有的UHRSSM仪器上，pi打算将这些仪器提供给外部用户。＊＊＊

0549600WeissThis collaborative grant (together with EAR-0549521; PI Baudenbacher) supports development of a Vector Scanning Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) Microscope (VSSM). The VSSM will measure all three components of the magnetic field with higher spatial resolution and far greater ease of use than now achieved using a previously developed single component Ultra High Resolution Scanning SQUID Microscope (UHRSSM) that is housed in Joe Kirschvink's paleomagnetism laboratory Caltech. The UHRSSM was developed primarily by Franz Baudenbacher under previous EAR/IF support (EAR-0004101). The UHRSSM has been shown to measure the vertical component of the magnetic field above the surface of a room-temperature sample with a moment sensitivity of better than 10-15 Am2 (three orders of magnitude more sensitive than commercially available superconducting rock magnetometers) with sub millimeter spatial resolution. The VSSM would support research on samples where the magnetic remanence is too weak to be measured via standard rock magnetometer techniques or for studies in which high (sub-mm to micron) spatial resolution of the magnetic remanence components may yield new insights into the paleoenvironmental conditions at the time the field was acquired or for which sample size is extremely limited. Examples include paleomagnetic investigations of planetary materials and studies of terrestrial Hadean zircons that may shed light on the timing of magnetic field evolution, ultra-high resolution magnetostratigraphy, and elucidation of individual magnetic mineral carriers from fine grained materials. The development involves collaboration between a geoscientist/planetary scientist (Weiss) and a physicist (Baudenbacher) and private sector partners who will fabricate the tiny (120 mu m square) SQUID sensors that will be employed on the new VSSM. The new VSSM technology will be ported to existing UHRSSM instruments in geoscience departments on the west (Caltech) and east (MIT) coasts and the PIs intend to make the instruments available to outside users. ***