M(H) shape reconstruction using magnetic spectroscopy

Knowledge about the magnetization behavior M(H) is crucial for the use of magnetic materials in engineering applications. To date many systems exist that are able to measure the magnetization behavior, e.g. VSM, VCM, MOKE. In addition to their huge costs, complex and space-consuming measurement setup, large amount of preparatory work and restricted surface measurements are handicaps which restrict their field of application. Furthermore, the influence of additional physical quantities such as temperature, strain or pressure can only be investigated with great efforts. These influences are, however, of major importance in the development of magnetic sensor systems that are based on the change in magnetic properties.In this paper, a new measurement principle based on a frequency mixing technique is introduced for investigation of the shape of the magnetization curve of soft non-hysteretic magnetic materials. Based on the Taylor expansion of the magnetization curve and the spectral investigation of the inductively detected signal, a mathematical model for the reconstruction of M(H) is proposed. The model is both numerically and experimentally verified. It is shown that the magnetization curve of a nanocrystalline soft magnetic material used in this study can be reconstructed very accurately and the influence of an additional parameter, i.e. strain, can be investigated in detail as well.