Design, construction, and calibration of a three-axis, high-frequency magnetic probe (B-dot probe) as a diagnostic for exploding plasmas

A three-axis, 2.5 mm overall diameter differential magnetic probe (also known as B-dot probe) is discussed in detail from its design and construction to its calibration and use as diagnostic of fast transient effects in exploding plasmas. A design and construction method is presented as a means to reduce stray pickup, eliminate electrostatic pickup, reduce physical size, and increase magnetic signals while maintaining a high bandwidth. The probe's frequency response is measured in detail from 10 kHz to 50 MHz using the presented calibration method and compared to theory. The effect of the probe's self-induction as a first order correction in frequency, O(omega), on experimental signals and magnetic field calculations is discussed. The probe's viability as a diagnostic is demonstrated by measuring the magnetic field compression and diamagnetism of a sub-Alfvenic (similar to 500 km/s, M(A) similar to 0.36) flow created from the explosion of a high-density energetic laser plasma through a cooler, low-density, magnetized ambient plasma. (C) 2009 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3246785]