A sensor test in a heavy snow(Image by Zhu Wanhua from he Key Laboratory of Electromagnetic Radiation and Probing Technology, IECAS)

A sensor test in the summer(Image by Zhu Wanhua from he Key Laboratory of Electromagnetic Radiation and Probing Technology, IECAS)

Appearance of a magnetic field sensor(Image by Zhu Wanhua from he Key Laboratory of Electromagnetic Radiation and Probing Technology, IECAS)

Based on the country's major strategic demand for "increasing reserves through domestic prospecting", supported by the funds for the Knowledge Innovation Project and the SinoProbe Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, after nearly three years' technical research, the Key Laboratory of Electromagnetic Radiation and Probing Technology, IECAS (No. 10 Laboratory) has achieved breakthrough in magnetic sensor (induction coil) technology--the core sensor of China's geophysical electromagnetic prospecting devices or equipment, developing magnetic sensors applied in methods such as magnetotelluric (MT), controlled source audiofrequency magnetotelluric (CSAMT), controlled source electromagnetic (CSAMT), transient electromagnetic (TEM) and geophysical electromagnetic logging. The senior has a minimum working frequency of 0.0001Hz (10000s) and a noise level of pT or fT. All its indicators have been up to advanced world standards.

Over the year, several geophysical prospecting departments have applied, tested and compared CAS induction coil manufactured in small volume in field projects in different seasons and areas. The results have shown IECAS-developed frequency-domain and time-domain induction coil are as advanced as similar foreign magnetic bars and superior in some indicators; compared to foreign ones, CAS magnetic bars enjoy overwhelming advantages in weight and power consumption. The successful development of CAS induction coil has laid a solid technical foundation for China to develop geophysical electrical prospecting devices and equipment.

Additionally, CAS induction coil boast a broad outlook of application in marine exploration and monitoring, especially in fields such as submarine scientific observation network construction and submarine detection warfare.

(Zhu Wanhua/No. 10 Laboratory)