IPHT Wins Mining Research Award for World’s First SQUID-Based Full Tensor Airborne Magnetic Gradiometer

December 3, 2007 (HE10/H16). The Institute for Photonic Technologies (IPHT) of Jena, Germany won the Outstanding Achievement Award in the category Mining Research for their groundbreaking research in the field of geomagnetic surveying systems. The award bestowed by the publishers of the renowned Mining Journal, which was first published in 1835, was presented during the annual Mines and Money Conference held in London on 21 and 22 November, 2007.

IPHT´s world’s first Full Tensor Airborne Magnetic Gradiometer, known by its synonym ”JESSY STAR”, has surpassed all conventional surveying technology in performance and, in addition, provided the exploration community with magnetic data never measured before. It utilizes the ultimate sensitivity of low-temperature Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) sensors.

To date, JESSY STAR has flown hundreds of hours in both helicopter mode and fixed wing plane configuration. According to the Press Announcement of November 21, 2007, it has transformed exploration from “flying blind” to “seeing clearly“. Similar results were achieved with the complementary JESSY DEEP System, which is deployed as a ground EM system. (JESSY is the synonym for “Jena Squid System”). These new generation sensors are capable of detecting minerals and precious metals that were deemed “undetectable” before.