Magnetic measurements - Principles andproduction of magnetic fields

Magnetic materials satisfy the fundamental demands of our society, such as the generation, distribution and conversion of energy, and the storage of information. They are involved in a myriad of applications that form part of our daily lives. None of these applications would be effective without the knowledge of material properties that accurate, reproducible magnetic measurement can provide. Measurement, which requires a good understanding of the underlying scientific aspects, has practical consequences when consensus exists and standards are set. Metrological and standardization institutes play a key role here.

Starting with the definition of physical quantities and the associated phenomenology, this dossier summarizes the basic concepts and methods applied to the characterization of magnetic materials, then describes the production and various methods of measuring magnetic fields. The measurement of magnetic hysteresis and associated parameters, which are at the heart of any technological application, is the subject of the [D 1 505] dossier.