Measurement Of Megampere Currents With Optical Fibers

L. Veeser; D. Kania; B. Freeman; P. Kruse; E. Zimmermann

doi:10.1117/12.934782

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7 November 1983 Measurement Of Megampere Currents With Optical Fibers

L. Veeser, D. Kania, B. Freeman, P. Kruse, E. Zimmermann

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Proceedings Volume 0380, Los Alamos Conf on Optics '83; (1983) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.934782
Event: Los Alamos Conference on Optics, 1983, New Mexico, United States

Abstract

We have used fiber optic sensors routinely to measure multi-megampere currents. The sensors are low noise, absolutely calibrated, and electrically decoupled from the pulsed power source. Polarized light from a HeNe laser is guided past the current carrier by a single-mode, low-birefringence fiber. The magnetic field from the current causes a Faraday rotation of the light polarization which is detected by a polarization analyzer and photo-diode at the end of the fiber. We observe a rotation of about 250°/MA ± 5%, slightly less than the Verdet constant for non-birefringent silica glass. We find that highly birefrin-gent (polarization preserving) optical fibers do not work in this application. We are now trying to ruggedize the sensor for field use with high-explosive-driven current sources by using a diode laser and single mode fiber couplers to replace the laboratory system of lenses and spatial filters.

Citation Download Citation

L. Veeser, D. Kania, B. Freeman, P. Kruse, and E. Zimmermann "Measurement Of Megampere Currents With Optical Fibers", Proc. SPIE 0380, Los Alamos Conf on Optics '83, (7 November 1983); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.934782

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