
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Smith, R.S. 
A1  - Lee, T.J. 
T1  - The impulse-response moments of a conductive sphere in a uniform field, a versatile and efficient electromagnetic model
JF  - Exploration Geophysics
JO  - Explor. Geophys.
Y1  - 2001
VL  - 32
IS  - 2
SP  - 113
EP  - 118
KW  - 
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1071/EG01113 
N2  - The impulse response moments of a conductive sphere in free space excited by a uniform magnetic field can be used to approximate the moments of a sphere in a dipolar field. The numerical computations are straightforward and the approximation is especially good for higher-order moments. The greatest discrepancy is seen on the zeroth-order moment when the radius of the sphere is large. It is possible to improve the accuracy for the zeroth-order moment by modelling the large-radius sphere (in a dipole field) as the combined response of multiple small-radius spheres (each in a locally uniform field). The small spheres are closely packed inside the larger sphere. The discrepancy can be reduced to less than 15% in this manner. The sphere in a uniform field can also be used to approximate the response of a body that has its currents constrained to flow in a plane with a specific orientation. This means that plate-like bodies or anisotropic spheres can also be modelled. The third-order moment has been calculated from data acquired during a MEGATEM airborne electromagnetic survey of the Reid-Mahaffy test site. There is an anomalous response in the third-order moment that can be modelled by a sphere at 170 m depth with a conductivity of 15 S/m and a radius of 40 m. The currents flowing in the sphere are constrained to flow in a vertical plane. This model is consistent with the geology of the area and a hole drilled to test the anomalous zone. 
ER  -

