• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SD
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.33-41
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• 2004

In this paper, a polarimetric fiber optic current sensor(P-FOCS) is experimented and fabricated, and then a possibility to the commercial utilization of the P-FOCS is also investigated. The P-FOCS measures an applied current by a Faraday rotation linearly proportional to a magnetic field generated by the applied current. The bending-induced linear birefringence in the sensing fiber is minimized by using the low birefringent fiber. Also, all fiber-optic components are used to avoid optical losses coming from the use of bulk components. A signal processing circuit is constructed and used to eliminate the effects of intensity variations in the output signal due to losses coming from misalignments of components such as fiber connectors. Using the optical source of 632.8nm wavelength, Faraday rotation is measured by passing through the sensing fiber within the solenoid of about 1500 turns which is equivalent to a current source of about 7500A. In the range of 1000A to 7500A, the measurement error for linearity is within about 1.5%.