Magnetization and magnetoresistance of common alloy wires used in cryogenic instrumentation

Published

April 16, 2007

Author(s)

Mike Abrecht, Andrew Adare, John (Jack) W. Ekin

Abstract

We present magnetization and magnetoresistance data at liquid-helium and liquid-nitrogen temperatures for wire materials commonly used for instrumentation wiring of specimens, sensors, and heaters in cryogenic probes. The magnetic susceptibilities in Systeme International units at 4.2 K were found to be: Manganin 1.25x10^-2, Nichrome 5.6x10^-3, and phosphor bronze -3.3x10^-5, indicating that phosphor bronze is the most suitable for high-field applications. We also show the ferromagnetic hysteresis loop of Constantan wire at liquid-helium temperature. The magnetoresistance of these four wires was relatively small: the changes in resistance at 4 K due to a 10 T transverse magnetic field are -2.56% for Constantan, -2.83% for Manganin, +0.69% for Nichrome, and +4.5% for phosphor bronze, compared to about +188% for a typical copper wire under the same conditions.

Citation

Review of Scientific Instruments

Issue

046104

Pub Type

Journals

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Keywords

Constantan, copper alloys, magnetization, magnetoresistance, Manganin, Nichrome, phosphor bronze

Citation

Abrecht, M. , Adare, A. and Ekin, J. (2007), Magnetization and magnetoresistance of common alloy wires used in cryogenic instrumentation, Review of Scientific Instruments, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=32177 (Accessed May 9, 2026)

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