Summary

In response to customer requests, we are investigating whether our integrated 3-axis Hall chip, the MagVector™ MV2, can operate at cryogenic temperatures. For these tests, we are working with two German research labs, the GSI near Frankfurt and the KIT in Karlsruhe. In this article we summarize the results of first experiments in liquid nitrogen. The results of both laboratories have been very encouraging.

Preparation

The experimental design was left to the laboratories; Metrolab simply supplied modified MagVector™ MV2 Evaluation Kits. A 3m cable allowed the sensor to be cooled while maintaining the micro-controller at room temperature. To accommodate the increased cable length, the SPI data rate was reduced from 10 Mbps to 1 Mbps, which in no way limits the operation. At the suggestion of Alexander Warth of the GSI, we also modified the decoupling capacitors on the probe head, moving a 10 µF Ta capacitor to the room-temperature section, and replacing two 100 nF X7R capacitors with NPO equivalents that have much lower temperature coefficients.

First tests at GSI

Alexander Warth’s experimental approach was to attach a permanent magnet to the sensor head, wrap this package in insulation to minimize condensation and to limit the rate of cool-down, and continuously measure the MV2 analog output as the sensor head was lowered into liquid nitrogen. The permanent magnet was SmCo, which features a low temperature coefficient and field strength at the surface of ~0.4 T; a spacer reduced the measured field to around 0.2 T in order to remain within the MV2’s 0.3 T range.

The resulting cool-down and warm-up curves are shown below; the blue trace is the dominant field component, and the red trace is the MV2 temperature reading, both scaled by the nominal gain and offset. One can observe several phenomena: (1) a large discontinuity in the cool-down curve when the microprocessor locked up, and smaller discontinuities in the warm-up curve. We suspect that these effects are due to piezo-electric voltage spikes generated by the decoupling capacitors. One can also see (2) a stairstep effect, due to the limited resolution of the ADCs in the microprocessor. We see (3) that the temperature output, although inaccurate, is not yet saturated. But most importantly, we see (4) that the sensor continues to function at liquid-nitrogen temperatures!

First tests at KIT

Andreas Grau’s experimental approach revolved around a robot arm moving a SmCo permanent magnet across the sensor. The sensor head was mounted on a copper plate with heaters, in order to control the rate of cooling, and the temperature was monitored with a Lakeshore temperature monitor. Three scans were performed: a baseline scan at room temperature, then a scan in liquid nitrogen, and finally at room temperature again, to see whether the characteristics had changed. During each scan, the three magnetic-field components and the on-chip temperature were measured, this time using the MV2’s 16-bit on-board ADCs and digital interface. Some photographs of the KIT experimental setup are shown below.

The results of the three scans are shown below. First of all, we see that the overall shape of the field map is the same at room temperature and at 77°K, showing once again that the sensor continues to function. The field is stronger at low temperatures, as one would expect from the temperature coefficient of the magnet. Moreover, this experiment demonstrates that not only the analog circuitry works, but that the digital “back end” does as well. Very importantly, we observe that the two sets of room-temperature curves – before and after the dip in liquid nitrogen – are identical, demonstrating that the characteristics of the sensor have not changed. Finally, these plots do not show the temperature output, but we can confirm that it is not yet saturated at 77°K.

Conclusions

We are delighted to see that the MagVector™ MV2 continues to function in liquid nitrogen. Both the analog and digital interfaces work. Both laboratories took measures to limit thermal shock, but the sensor appears to be robust, returning to its original characteristics after a thermal cycle.

Next steps are to: (1) perform a more complete test and characterization of the sensor at 77°K; (2) try operating the sensor at even lower temperatures; and (3) compare the MagVector™ MV2 with other cryogenic Hall sensors in actual use.