Rock and Paleomagnetism Laboratory
My laboratory continues a long tradition of magnetic measurements begun by Profs. Moyer (Chemistry) and Lindsay (Prof. Emeritus, Physics) who conducted measurements of magnetic susceptibility on rare earth compounds. Our recently upgraded magnetism laboratory consists of a AGICO JR6 spinner magnetometer and KLY4 Kappabridge with furnace attachment. I recently upgraded my old Schoenstedt AF-demagnetizer and am now the proud owner of a Magnon International alternating field demagnetizer, which is capable of demagnetizing in peak fields up to 300 mT. Jude's electric furnace works great and allows us to heat samples in an inert gas atmosphere under controlled field conditions to do thermal demagnetization or TRM acquisition experiments. Wayne recently upgraded my ASC pulse magnetizer. The instrument is now computer controlled and it should not matter any longer how much sleep my students got the night before an experiment.

Various magnetic gadgets, such as a gaussmeter, m-metal shields, demagnetizing wands etc. complete my magnetism laboratory facilities.

Sediment samples can be stored in a walk-in cooler, which is rapidly filling up with cores from all over the United States.

For various non-magnetic analyses my students and I have quick access to a good analytical balance, a new centrifuge and a muffle furnace for LOI experiments.

Several stereo microscopes as well as a Leitz petrographic microscope allow for sediment and smearslide analyses, as well as domain observations under reflected light.

 



JR6 spinner magnetometer, controlled with a COMPAQ computational powerhouse - the legendary LTE Elite 4/75C - no need to secure that baby to the lab bench...

KLY-4 Kappabridge susceptibility bridge with furnace attachment and a batch of sediment samples in the foreground.

Magnon alternating field demagnetizer, allowing for alternating field demagnetization or ARM acquistion experiments up to 300 mT

Our recently upgraded pulse magnetizer. The triggering of the instrument is now computer controlled, which takes away much of the uncertainty of manual triggering.
     
 

When I arrived at Trinity College I inherited an ancient electromagnet, which has since been upgraded by Steve Bonsu and is capable of producing magnetic fields up to 1.4 T. The lab is under the expert care of Wayne Strange, the Physics Department's experienced technician and Halley, student motivator and lab supervisor:

Halley keeping an eye on the lab.

 ..and keeping Jim in line.

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