A Noncontacting Magnetic Pickup Probe for Measuring the Pitch of a Precision Solenoid

The magnetic-field gradients produced by a current sequentially activating a few turns of wire of a precision solenoid are used to measure its pitch. The position of the activated portion of wire can be resolved to 0.1 ?m. Preliminary results are found to be in agreement with an earlier measurement using a contacting probe to within the uncertainty of the latter determination. This new technique reduces many of the difficulties associated with conventional pitch measuring schemes and at the same time provides a method of obtaining increased accuracy.