(a) Measurement of k.

Most measurements of k

involve a comparison of the sample with a standard.

The simplest laboratory method is to compare the

deflection produced on a tangent magnetometer by a

prepared sample (either a drill core or powdered rock in a tube) with that of a
standard sample of magnetic material (often FeCl3 powder in a test

tube) when the sample is in the Gauss-A position. The susceptibility of the
sample is

found from the ratio of deflections:

c1 and d,4 are the deflections for the sample and

standard, respectively. The samples must be of the same size.

(b) Measurement of remanent magnetism. Measurement of remanent

susceptibilty is considerably more complicated than that of k. One method uses

an astatic magnetometer, which consists of two magnets of equal moment that

are rigidly mounted paralel to each other in the same horizontal plane with

opposing poles. The magnetic system is suspended

by a torsion fiber. The specimen is placed in various

orientations below the astatic system and the angular

deflections are measured. This device, in effect, measurement the magnetic field
gradient, so that extraneous

fields must either be eliminated or made uniform

over the region of the sample. Usually the entire

assembly is mounted inside a three-component coil

system that cancels the Earth's field.

3.4.3

The proton-precession magnetometer depends on the measurement of the free-precession frequency

of protons (hydrogen nuclei) that have been polarized in a direction approximately normal to the
direction of the Earth's field. when the polarizing field is suddenly removed, the protons process about
the Earths field like a spinning top: the Earths field supplies the precessing force corresponding to
that or gravity in the case of a top. The analogs is illustrated in Figure 3.9. The protons precess at an
angular velocity , known as the Larmor precession frequency, which is proportional to the
magnetic field F, so that
= pF (3.30a)

The constant p is the gyromagnetic ratio of the proton, the ratio of its magnetic moment to its Spin
angular momentum. The value of p known to an accuracy of 0.001%. Since precise frequency
meassurements are relatively easy, the magnetic field can be determined to the same accuracy. The
proton, which is a moving charge, induces, in a coil surrounding the sample, a voltage that varies at
the precession frequency v. Thus we can determine the magnetic field from

F = 2 / p (3.30b)

3.4.4. Optically Pumped Magnetometer

A variety of scientific instruments and techniques has been developed using the energy in
transferring atomic electrons from one energy level to another. For example, by irradiating
a gas with light or radio-frequency waves of the proper frequency. electrons may be raised to
a higher energy level. If they can be accumulated in such a state and then suddenly returned
to a lower level, they release some of their energy in the process. This energy may be used for
amplification (masers) or to get an intense light beam. such as that produced by a laser.

F = 2 / e