Burst Eddy Current Testing with a Diamond Magnetometry

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel burst eddy current testing method utilizing a diamond NV center magnetometer with enhanced sensitivity, enabling precise imaging and detection of internal structures in metallic specimens with potential applications in various fields.

Contribution

The work demonstrates a highly sensitive NV magnetometer-based burst eddy current testing prototype with improved detection capabilities and potential for diverse applications including biomaterials and security screening.

Findings

Magnetic sensitivity improved by 5 times over existing methods

Minimum detectable sample size less than 300 micrometers

Measurement accuracy of approximately 9.85 micrometers

Abstract

In this work, a burst eddy current testing technique based on the employment of a diamond nitrogen vacancy (NV) center magnetometer with the Hahn echo (HE) sequence is demonstrated. With the confocal experiment apparatus, the HE-based NV magnetometer attained a magnetic sensitivity of $4.3 ~ \mathrm{nT} / \sqrt{\mathrm{Hz}}$ and a volume-normalized sensitivity of $3.6 ~ \mathrm{pT} / \sqrt{\mathrm{Hz} \cdot \mathrm{mm}^{-3}}$, which are 5 times better than the already existing method under the same conditions. Based on the proposed magnetometer configuration, a burst eddy current (BEC) testing prototype achieves a minimum detectable sample smaller than ${300~{\mu} \mathrm{m}}$ and measurement accuracy of $9.85~\mathrm{\mu} \mathrm{m}$., which is employed to image different metallic specimens and detect the layered internal structures. Since our prototype comprises superb high sensitivity, it exhibits various potential applications in the fields of deformation monitoring, security screening, and quality control. Moreover, its biocompatibility and promising nanoscale resolution paves the way for electromagnetic testing in the fields of biomaterials.