Evaluation and optimization of the SMILE fluxgate magnetometer

The report shows the development during the last six months of the SMILE fluxgate magnetometer from a basic platform into a first generation magnetometer. The purpose of the SMILE project is to develop a miniaturized digital fluxgate magnetometer for the Nanospace project. The Nanospace project is collaboration by KTH and IRF Uppsala with the goal to develop a nano satellite platform. The FPGA programming has been improved to include a functional correlation loop, 13 bit DACs and a parallel and a serial interface with several output modes. The timing of the processes in the FPGA has been improved making it more robust. Some critical changes to the analogue parts has also been made. The LEMI sensors have been tested in a number of ways to increase the understanding of their characteristics. The magnetometer has also been calibrated at the Nurmijärvi geophysical observatory in Finland