veldprobes

Veldprobes, or field probes, are sensing devices used to measure electric and magnetic fields in scientific, industrial, and engineering contexts. The term is commonly found in Dutch-language literature and refers to a family of instruments rather than a single standardized device. Field probes aim to detect the presence, direction, and strength of fields with minimal disturbance to the field being measured.

There are several families of veldprobes depending on the quantity being measured and the frequency range. Electric field probes (E-field probes) often rely on a small conductive or insulated sensor connected to a high-impedance readout to minimize perturbation. Magnetic field probes use coils (search coils), Hall-effect sensors, magnetoresistive devices, or fluxgate sensors to detect magnetic flux or field strength. For radio frequency or optical measurements, specialized RF probes and electro-optic or fiber-optic sensors may be employed to achieve non-contact or low-perturbation measurements.

Key design considerations include the sensor’s bandwidth and frequency response, sensitivity, dynamic range, spatial resolution, and the degree to which the probe perturbs the field. Shielding, grounding, and cable routing are important to reduce noise and interference. Calibration is essential and often performed against known reference fields or using spherical field standards. In plasma and high-frequency environments, the probe itself can perturb the field, prompting the development of non-intrusive or minimally invasive variants.

Applications span plasma diagnostics, wireless and EMC testing, antenna characterization, and laboratory research in physics and engineering. The choice of veldprobe depends on the target field type, frequency range, required precision, and the environment in which measurements are made.