Simulations of Different Helmholtz Coil Configurations for Induction Magnetometers in Archaeomagnetic Applications

Archaeomagnetic studies provide crucial information on the spatial and temporal evolution of the geomagnetic field as recorded in rocks and archeological artifacts, offering insights into both Earth’s magnetic evolution and past geological and human activities. Measurements of the direction, intensity, and relative variations in the Earth’s Magnetic Field (EMF) are performed using sensitive magnetometers. Among these, induction magnetometers exploit Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction to measure magnetic fields with high precision. In this work, we present a comparison between two different configurations of Helmholtz-based induction magnetometers carried out through the analysis of the magnetic field distribution obtained through analytical simulations. The study examines both the uniformity and intensity of the magnetic fields produced by each configuration, highlighting the influence of coil geometry on field homogeneity and sensitivity. The results reveal differences between the two configurations, providing important insights for optimizing magnetometer design, improving measurement accuracy, and facilitating analytical procedures in archaeomagnetic research.