Fabrication and calibration of search coils

Abstract

In this paper the techniques available to make and calibrate magnetic search coils are reviewed, with emphasis on harmonic coil systems as the commonly-used optimal choice for integral measurements of accelerator magnets in terms of measuring range, accuracy, and cost. The topics treated, drawing extensively on half a century of experience at CERN, include mechanical and electrical design criteria, practical fabrication techniques, metrological considerations, and various calibration methods for coil parameters such as surface area, rotation radius, tilt angle etc. in both static or time-varying magnetic fields.

35 pages, presented at the CERN Accelerator School CAS 2009: Specialised Course on Magnets, Bruges, 16-25 June 2009