Metal-ceramic laminate composite magnetoelectric gradiometer.

Gradiometer resembles in functionality a magnetic field sensor where it measures the magnetic field gradient and its sensitivity is determined by the ability to quantify differential voltage change with respect to a reference value. Magnetoelectric (ME) gradiometer designed in this study is based upon the nickel (Ni)-Pb(Zr,Ti)O(3) (PZT) composites and utilizes the ring-dot piezoelectric transformer structure working near the resonance as the basis. The samples had the ring-dot electrode pattern printed on the top surface of PZT, where ring acts as the input while dot acts as the output. There is an insulation gap between the input and output section of 1.2 mm. The generated magnetic field due to converse ME effect interacts with the external applied magnetic field producing flux gradient, which is detected through the frequency shift and output voltage change in gradiometer structure. The measurements of output voltage dependence on applied magnetic field clearly illustrate that the proposed design can provide high sensitivity and bandwidth.