Self-powered, hybrid antenna-magnetoresistive sensor for magnetic field detection

Abstract

A self-powered hybrid sensor integrating a resonant antenna with a magnetoresistive spin valve sensor was microfabricated. The device is activated by a radiofrequency (rf) external electromagnetic source. This hybrid sensor is capable of detecting dc and ac external magnetic fields in the thermal noise regime. For an excitation rf field of 17 dB m at 130 MHz, the sensitivity to a transverse magnetic field normalized by the current induced in the device was 812 V (T A)−1 for dc magnetic field detection and 918 V (T A)−1 for the ac field measurement.