Proton Mag sensor question

[Unregistered]

Hi all,
I know with professional magnetometers that I've used, the solenoidal sensor has an arrow marked on top to indicate how to orient the sensor so that you get maximum signal strength out of the sensor. Also, if the sensor is turned so that the side is now horizontal (they call it saddle mount) then it also has an arrow to mark north orientation as well. If I were to make a solenoidal coil, how would I know how to orient it? I think about winding a sensor and having the bottle oriented vertically and the windings going around in a horizontal direction, and I can't imagine how any orientation with the sensor held in this position could make a difference. Can anybody shed any light on this? Thanks for any help.

[Crowbar]

Long time ago i built my proton mag, may be now I forgot something, but: If you are building a proton magnetometer, not a proton gradiometer- then the orientation of a solenoidal coil isn't so important, cause as you know proton mag is a scalar mag.

[Unregistered]

In the best orientation, the magnetic field lines cut directly across the windings (perpendicular to the axis of the coil). the worst orientation is when the magnetic field is parallel to the axis of the coil. When exactly parallel to the axis of the coil, the sensor will produce no signal.

[Unregistered]

If it is an 856 sensor with the arrow on the top that you refer to it is not a simple solenoid. Had an opperator drop one some years ago... the windeings are quite a bit more complex than i expected, wish i had taken a photo