Sensitivity and noise analysis of SAW magnetic field sensors with varied magnetostrictive layer thicknesses

•Sensitivity of 35 rad/T for a SAW Magnetic Field Sensor is achieved.•Sensitivity increases with increasing magnetostrictive film thicknesses.•Magnetic hysteresis losses also increase with film thickness.•Nearly constant Limit of detection for film thicknesses between 50 nm and 300 nm.•Limit of detection is independent from sensitivity as shown analytically.