High-Frequency Sensors
EPIC Passive High-Frequency Sensors:
- 4.5 Hz 3-channel geophones (Sercel L-28-3D or GeoSpace Y-28/GS-11-3D)
- 4.5 Hz vertical geophones for Texan or Multi-Channel Digitizers
- 40 Hz vertical geophones for Texan or Multi-Channel Digitizers
- See also All-In-One Systems (Fairfield Nodes, SmartSolo)
Features:
High-frequency sensors are very rugged seismometers, often termed geophones, that cover higher frequency bands of 4.5 Hz to 600 Hz. EPIC's high-frequency geophones are passive velocity transducers (coil/magnet geophones). These sensors are most often used in active-source experiments, but can be used to record a variety of local and regional weak-motion signals and noise in the bandwidth.
EPIC also has feedback accelerometers for recording strong-motion signals, ranging from DC to high frequency.
Types of Projects:
- Active source (land and off-shore excitations)
- Glacial Movements
- Local Earthquake
- Aftershock Studies
Other Documents:
A Note on MEMS Sensors:
Geophones have historically been passive analog devices and typically comprise a spring-mounted magnetic mass moving within a wire coil to generate an electrical signal. Some recent sensor designs have been focused on MEMS technology which generates an electrical response to ground motion through an active feedback circuit to maintain the position of a small piece of silicon. The response of a coil/magnet geophone is proportional to ground velocity, while MEMS (Microelectromechanical) devices usually respond proportional to acceleration. MEMS typically have a much higher noise level (50 dB velocity higher) than geophones and are best used in strong motion applicatons or active seismic. (excerpt from Wikipedia, 2009).
MEMS sensors are not yet suitable for the kinds of experiments EPIC Principle Investigator's (PI's) usually undertake.
