Investigation of Unwanted Oscillations of Electrically Modulated Magnetoelectric Cantilever Sensors.

Magnetoelectric thin-film cantilevers consisting of strain-coupled magnetostrictive and piezoelectric layers are promising candidates for magnetic field measurements in biomedical applications. In this study, we investigate magnetoelectric cantilevers that are electrically excited and operated in a special mechanical mode with resonance frequencies above 500 kHz. In this particular mode, the cantilever bends in the short axis, forming a distinctive U-shape and exhibiting high-quality factors and a promising limit of detection of 70pT/Hz1/2 at 10 Hz. Despite this U mode, the sensors show a superimposed mechanical oscillation along the long axis. The induced local mechanical strain in the magnetostrictive layer results in magnetic domain activity. Due to this, the mechanical oscillation may cause additional magnetic noise, deteriorating the limit of detection of such sensors. We compare finite element method simulations with measurements of magnetoelectric cantilevers in order to understand the presence of oscillations. From this, we identify strategies for eliminating the external effects that affect sensor operation. Furthermore, we investigate the influence of different design parameters, in particular the cantilever length, material parameters and the type of clamping, on the amplitude of the undesired superimposed oscillations. We propose design guidelines to minimize the unwanted oscillations.

Multi-Mode Love-Wave SAW Magnetic-Field Sensors.

A surface-acoustic-wave (SAW) magnetic-field sensor utilizing fundamental, first- and second-order Love-wave modes is investigated. A 4.5   µ m SiO2 guiding layer on an ST-cut quartz substrate is coated with a 200 n m (Fe90Co10)78Si12B10 magnetostrictive layer in a delay-line configuration. Love-waves are excited and detected by two interdigital transducers (IDT). The delta-E effect in the magnetostrictive layer causes a phase change with applied magnetic field. A sensitivity of 1250 ° / m T is measured for the fundamental Love mode at 263 M Hz . For the first-order Love mode a value of 45 ° / m T is obtained at 352 M Hz . This result is compared to finite-element-method (FEM) simulations using one-dimensional (1D) and two-and-a-half-dimensional (2.5 D) models. The FEM simulations confirm the large drop in sensitivity as the first-order mode is close to cut-off. For multi-mode operation, we identify as a suitable geometry a guiding layer to wavelength ratio of h GL / λ ≈ 1.5 for an IDT pitch of p = 12   µ m . For this layer configuration, the first three modes are sufficiently far away from cut-off and show good sensitivity.

Phononic-Crystal-Based SAW Magnetic-Field Sensors.

In this theoretical study, we explore the enhancement of sensing capabilities in surface acoustic wave (SAW)-based magnetic field sensors through the integration of engineered phononic crystals (PnCs). We particularly focus on amplifying the interaction between the SAW and magnetostrictive materials within the PnC structure. Through comprehensive simulations, we demonstrate the synchronization between the SAWs generated by IDTs and the resonant modes of PnCs, thereby leading to an enhancement in sensitivity. Furthermore, we investigate the ΔE effect, highlighting the sensor's responsiveness to changes in external magnetic fields, and quantify its magnetic sensitivity through observable changes in the SAW phase velocity leading to phase shifts at the end of the delay line. Notably, our approach yields a magnetic field sensitivity of approximately S~138 °mT for a delay line length of only 77 µm in homogeneous magnetic fields. Our findings underline the potential of PnCs to advance magnetic field sensing. This research offers insights into the integration of engineered materials for improved sensor performance, paving the way for more effective and accurate magnetic field detection solutions.

Ultrasensitive Magnetoelectric Sensing System for Pico-Tesla MagnetoMyoGraphy.

Magnetomyography (MMG) with superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) enabled the measurement of very weak magnetic fields (femto to pico Tesla) generated from the human skeletal muscles during contraction. However, SQUIDs are bulky, costly, and require working in a temperature-controlled environment, limiting wide-spread clinical use. We introduce a low-profile magnetoelectric (ME) sensor with analog frontend circuitry that has sensitivity to measure pico-Tesla MMG signals at room temperature. It comprises magnetostrictive and piezoelectric materials, FeCoSiB/AlN. Accurate device modelling and simulation are presented to predict device fabrication process comprehensively using the finite element method (FEM) in COMSOL Multiphysics. The fabricated ME chip with its readout circuit was characterized under a dynamic geomagnetic field cancellation technique. The ME sensor experiment validate a very linear response with high sensitivities of up to 378 V/T driven at a resonance frequency of fres = 7.76 kHz. Measurements show the sensor limit of detections of down to 175 pT/√Hz at resonance, which is in the range of MMG signals. Such a small-scale sensor has the potential to monitor chronic movement disorders and improve the end-user acceptance of human-machine interfaces.

Magnetic domain walls as broadband spin wave and elastic magnetisation wave emitters.

We report on the direct observation of spin wave and elastic wave emission from magnetic domain walls in ferromagnetic thin films. Driven by alternating homogeneous magnetic fields the magnetic domain walls act as coherent magnetisation wave sources. Directional and low damped elastic waves below and above the ferromagnetic resonance are excited. The wave vector of the magnetoelastically induced acoustic waves is tuned by varying the excitation frequency. The occurrence of elastic wave emission is proved by a combination of micromagnetic and mechanical finite element simulations. Domain wall emitted magnetostatic surface spin waves occur at higher frequencies, which characteristics are confirmed by micromagnetic simulations. The distinct modes of magnetisation wave excitation from micromagnetic objects are a general physical phenomenon relevant for dynamic magnetisation processes in structured magnetic films. Magnetic domain walls can act as reconfigurable antennas for spin wave and elastic wave generation. The wave orientation can be controlled separately via the domain wall orientation for elastic waves and via magnetization orientation for magnetostatic surface spin waves.

Wide Band Low Noise Love Wave Magnetic Field Sensor System.

We present a comprehensive study of a magnetic sensor system that benefits from a new technique to substantially increase the magnetoelastic coupling of surface acoustic waves (SAW). The device uses shear horizontal acoustic surface waves that are guided by a fused silica layer with an amorphous magnetostrictive FeCoSiB thin film on top. The velocity of these so-called Love waves follows the magnetoelastically-induced changes of the shear modulus according to the magnetic field present. The SAW sensor is operated in a delay line configuration at approximately 150 MHz and translates the magnetic field to a time delay and a related phase shift. The fundamentals of this sensor concept are motivated by magnetic and mechanical simulations. They are experimentally verified using customized low-noise readout electronics. With an extremely low magnetic noise level of ≈100 pT/[Formula: see text], a bandwidth of 50 kHz and a dynamic range of 120 dB, this magnetic field sensor system shows outstanding characteristics. A range of additional measures to further increase the sensitivity are investigated with simulations.

Tunable Strain in Magnetoelectric ZnO Microrod Composite Interfaces.

The intrinsic strain at coupled components in magnetoelectric composites plays an important role for the properties and function of these materials. In this in situ X-ray nanodiffraction experiment, the coating-induced as well as the magnetic-field-induced strain at the coupled interface of complex magnetoelectric microcomposites were investigated. These consist of piezoelectric ZnO microrods coated with an amorphous layer of magnetostrictive (Fe90Co10)78Si12B10. While the intrinsic strain is in the range of 10-4, the magnetic-field-induced strain is within 10-5, one order of magnitude smaller. Additionally, the strain relaxation distance of around 5 µm for both kinds of strain superposes indicating a correlation. The value of both intrinsic and magnetic-field-induced strain can be manipulated by the diameter of the rodlike composite. The intrinsic interface strain within the ZnO increases exponentially by decreasing the rod diameter while the magnetic-field-induced strain increases linearly within the given range. This study shows that miniaturizing has a huge impact on magnetoelectric composite properties, resulting in a strongly enhanced strain field and magnetic response.