The eddy current skin-effect limits the detection of subsurface defects and the range of thickness measurement. Traditional concepts to estimate the penetration depth basing on plane wave propagation into a conducting halfspace cannot describe the real depth of inspection achievable by state-of-the-art sensors and instruments. The paper presents a more fruitful concept for estimating the noise limited inspection depth. Here, the traditional parameters like frequency, probe dimensions, conductivity and permeability are analysed in combination with all sources of noise and disturbances in eddy current technique. New low frequency eddy current probes of inductive and magneto-resistive type are presented and characterised. These probes combine deep penetration with comparatively small size and good spatial resolution.
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