CubeSats in Support of Astrophysics, GRBAlpha and Beyond

Space science, including the field of astrophysics, is continuously finding innovative use cases for small satellites and CubeSat platforms. These missions support efforts in the democratisation and improved accessibility of space technologies. GRBAlpha, as one of such missions, is a 1U CubeSat carrying an experimental payload for the detection of gamma-ray bursts (GRB)

Advanced Magnetic Materials for Aeronautics

In the field of magnetic sensors, magnetic microwires with positive magnetostriction are the materials of the future. Their mechanical and magnetic properties render them ideal materials for applications in aeronautics. A single microwire with a 40 μm diameter and a length of 10 mm is capable of capturing information about tensile stresses, magnetic fields, temperature and distance. This information is carried by a parameter called the Switching Field, HSW, which is specific for different types of microwire. Numerous physical qualities affect the HSW and through sensing of HSW, these qualities may be quantified. (A number of physical qualities affecting HSW can be sensed and quantified by means of a contactless induction method.) What distinguishes the system developed by the present authors from other measuring systems based on magnetic microwires is the positioning of a microwire outside the coil system. Thanks to this improvement it is possible to use microwires embedded directly in the construction material. Small dimensions microwires do not damage the structure of the construction material. The absence of a galvanic connection makes this technology even more interesting compared with traditional forge gauges. Offering the possibility of the simultaneous measuring of four parameters, this technology can be used in a wide range of aviation applications. Measurements of an external magnetic field can be used for the navigation and stabilization of an aerial vehicle. Tensile stress and distance measuring can be helpful to understand some processes occurring under the surface of the construction material and also to perform fatigue monitoring or structure load monitoring. Another big advantage of magnetic microwires is the low price. Just 1 gram of base material is sufficient to prepare about 40 km of microwire. All these features combine to offer us a material ideal for Smart Sensors, possibly available for use in the near future

Estimation of Multichannel Magnetometer Noise Floor in Ordinary Laboratory Conditions

The article deals with the method of the inherent noise estimation in each channel of a four channel relax-type magnetometer in general laboratory conditions. The day-long development of ambient magnetic field has been recorded and then the data were processed by correlation methods to separate inherent noises of the channels from ambient noise in the statistically best times. The method is applicable for noise estimation of any multi-channel sensoric system and also for the separation of deterministic and stochastic components of signals

Advanced Method for Magnetic Microwires Noise Specification

The article points to the effects of the ambient noise and its possible influences on quantification of the inherent switching field noise of magnetic microwires. Based on the observed effects, an advanced methodology was developed to quantify the impact of the ambient noise. During measurements a multi-channel system with applied correlation methods was used. The proposed method determines the percentage contribution of the ambient noise deviation to the magnetic microwires switching field noise