Threshold sensitivity of quartz variometers with negative feedback

The maximum achievable parameters of magnetometers based on optomechanical quartz variometers are studied in connection with the planned transition of the international network Intermagnet to 1-s recording and the need to provide the network of Russian geomagnetic observatories with domestic magnetometers that satisfy Intermagnet requirements. The mechanism of negative feedback effect on the sensitivity threshold of a variometer with an optoelectronic angle transducer is shown. The optimization criterion for the size and shape of the magnets made of different magnetic materials is defined by the maximum ratio of the magnetic moment to the inertial moment. Theoretical and experimental evaluation of the variometer noise level is based on vicalloy and samarium–cobalt. It is shown that the frequency range of magnetometers with variometers based on vicalloy and samarium–cobalt will be bounded from above by frequencies of 1.6 and 6.4 Hz, respectively, at a threshold sensitivity of about 1 pT. These ratios of the frequency and threshold sensitivity for the given magnetic materials are probably limited for quartz variometers with an optoelectronic angle transducer.