Premium
Lunar magnetic permeability studies and magnetometer sensitivity
Author(s) -
King J. H.,
Ness N. F.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/gl004i004p00129
Subject(s) - magnetometer , permeability (electromagnetism) , magnetic field , sensitivity (control systems) , geophysics , quiet , physics , geology , geodesy , nuclear magnetic resonance , environmental science , chemistry , astronomy , engineering , biochemistry , quantum mechanics , electronic engineering , membrane
A regression of quiet magnetic field components simultaneously measured by the two Explorer 35 magnetometers reveals uncertainties in effective sensitivity factors of up to a few percent in one or both of these instruments. Given this, the validity of previous lunar permeability studies based on Explorer 35/ALSEP regressions, wherein inferences are drawn from regression line slopes differing from unity by the order of one percent, is called into question. We emphasize the need to critically address the question of small deviations in magnetometer sensitivity factors from nominal values as a part of any two‐magnetometer lunar permeability study.