Radium hath wroth:

Radio waves are made up of electric and magnetic fields.

Yep.

Couldn't the Spin Exchange Relaxation Free Magnetometer receive the
magnetic portions of AM radio waves at the carrier frequencies I
described? If not, why?

Nope.

1. The range of the magnetic field is limited. For example, you're
not going to bounce (errr... refract) a magnetic fields off the
ionosphere.

2. Magentometers use very big coils. Very big coils have lots of
inductance. Resonant circuits with lots of inductance tend to
resonate at very low frequencies. Figure on maybe 30Hz being the
highest frequency detectable by a magnetometer. Most roll off even
earlier to avoid 60Hz power line pickup.

3. Magnetometers are expensive. You're proposing using one as a
replacement for a 5 cent silicon diode detector. If the technology
doesn't get to you, the accountants will.

Agreed, static magnetic fields tend to decay rapidly as you move away
from them. However, alternating magnetic fields continue to propogate
by generating alternating electric fields of the same frequency. These
alternating electric fields, in turn, generate alternating magnetic
fields. The cycle keeps repeating.

Rubbish.
--
Jeff Liebermann
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558