LAUSR

A meander-like magnetic sensing element based on the giant magnetoimpedance (GMI) effect was prepared by using optical lithography and sputtering deposition techniques. The structure of the sensing element consists of layers of Permalloy (Py = Ni81Fe19), titanium (Ti), and copper (Cu) with composition [Py(100 nm)/Ti(6 nm)]4/Cu(400 nm)/[Py(100 nm)/Ti(6 nm)]4. The GMI was investigated at room temperature under applied magnetic fields (H) varying in the range of ±4.0 kOe in both longitudinal and transversal geometries. The amplitude Iac and frequency f of the ac electrical current were varied in the range of 0.35–6.50 mA and 0.1–20 MHz, respectively. The overall dc electrical resistance of the sensing element was found to be 45.6 Ω. The sensing element yielded a GMI of 53.5% for H ≃ 5.0 Oe and f = 7.0 MHz, and the corresponding maximum average sensitivity of about 5 Ω/Oe. The sensing element was used for measuring the local Earth magnetic field ( H l o c a l = 0.26 ± 0.03 Oe) yielding a value close to the on...