Noise characterization of highly sensitive SQUID magnetometer systems in unshielded environments

Abstract

To measure the noise performance of highly sensitive SQUID magnetometer systems directly is nearly impossible due to superimposed external noise. In magnetically unshielded environments in particular one needs sophisticated methods in order to get an estimate of the intrinsic noise. We compare different approaches to estimate the noise of our latest SQUID magnetometer systems in the Earth's magnetic field and compare the results with measurements in magnetic (and superconductive) shielding.