Identification of object composition with Magnetic Inductive Tomography

TL;DR

This paper presents a novel Magnetic Inductive Tomography technique that identifies object composition by analyzing their inductive responses, using a sensor with anisotropic sensitivity and validated with RF atomic magnetometry.

Contribution

The paper introduces a new method for object composition identification using magnetic inductive responses and anisotropic sensors, validated with experimental Magnetic Induction Tomography.

Findings

Successfully discriminates materials like copper and ferrite based on inductive responses.

Uses a sensor with anisotropic sensitivity to differentiate eddy current and magnetization signals.

Potential application in security screening devices.

Abstract

The inductive response of an object to an oscillating magnetic field reveals information about its electrical conductivity and magnetic permeability. Here we introduce a technique that uses measurements of the angular, frequency and spatial dependence of the inductive signal to determine object composition. Identification is performed by referencing an object's inductive response to that of materials with mutually exclusive properties such as copper (high electric conductivity, negligible magnetic permeability) and ferrite (negligible electric conductivity, high magnetic permeability). The technique uses a sensor with anisotropic sensitivity to discriminate between the different characters of the eddy current and magnetisation driven object responses. Experimental validation of the method is performed through Magnetic Induction Tomography measurement with a radio-frequency atomic magnetometer. Possible applications of the technique in security screening devices are discussed.