Geomagnetic Absolute Observation
by Applied Vector Proton Method
Tetsuo TOKUMOTO
Abstract
A new method of absolute observation of three geomagnetic field components by a
device composed of a geomagnetic total force magnetometer combined with three
orthogonal coils to produce a compensating magnetic field was investigated. A vector
proton method is an excellent method to measure vector components of geomagnetic
fields; however it cannot serve as a magnetic absolute observation because of the
inclination of the compensating coil and its fluctuation over time.This study considered a
new method based on the vector proton method. Absolute magnetic fields and orientation
of compensating coils are calculated from measured values of magnetic total forces for
certain patterns of artificial magnetic fields added to each component by the three
orthogonal compensating coils.
Assuming that resolution and stability of the geomagnetic total force magnetometer
and electric current through the coils are adequate, three components of geomagnetic
absolute fields could be measured by the new method with a degree of precision
comparable to magnetometers in current use.
Received 27 August 2007; Received in revised form 8 November 2007
