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Signal-coil calibration of electromagnetic seismometers

Institute for Crustal Studies University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106-1100
Department of Geological Sciences University of Southern California, 3651 University Avenue, SCI 117, Los Angeles, California 90089-0740
Treaty Verification Program/Seismology Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, P.O. BOX 808, Livermore, California 94550

Abstract

We show that electromagnetic (em) seismometers may be easily and accurately calibrated by removing a step of current from their signal coil, and simultaneously switching the signal coil to a recorder to capture the response. A theory is developed that obtains the damped generator constant, resonant frequency, and damping ratio from the output of a system identifier used to analyze the response. Only the seismometer mass (from the manufacturer) and the applied current (measured) need be known for a complete calibration. The coil and damping resistances are not required. The method is confirmed by comparing this signal-coil method with weight-lift and calibration-coil calibrations. For a GS-13 V seismometer, these results were within 1.3% of each other. The undamped generator constant computed from the damped generator constant obtained by the signal-coil method matched the generator constant given by the manufacturer to better than 1%. Calibration of nine new L-4C components resulted in undamped generator constants all within 3% of the values given by the manufacturer. The circuit used in the signal-coil method is shown and explained.

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