Recent Progress on Electromagnetic Field Measurement Based on Optical Sensors

Abstract

Electromagnetic field sensors are widely used in various areas. In recent years, great progress has been made in the optical sensing technique for electromagnetic field measurement, and varieties of corresponding sensors have been proposed. Types of magnetic field optical sensors were presented, including probes-based Faraday effect, magnetostrictive materials, and magnetic fluid. The sensing system-based Faraday effect is complex, and the sensors are mostly used in intensive magnetic field measurement. Magnetic field optical sensors based on magnetic fluid have high sensitivity compared to that based on magnetostrictive materials. Three types of electric field optical sensors are presented, including the sensor probes based on electric-optic crystal, piezoelectric materials, and electrostatic attraction. The majority of sensors are developed using the sensing scheme of combining the LiNbO3 crystal and optical fiber interferometer due to the good electro-optic properties of the crystal. The piezoelectric materials-based electric field sensors have simple structure and easy fabrication, but it is not suitable for weak electric field measurement. The sensing principle based on electrostatic attraction is less commonly-used sensing methods. This review aims at presenting the advances in optical sensing technology for electromagnetic field measurement, analyzing the principles of different types of sensors and discussing each advantage and disadvantage, as well as the future outlook on the performance improvement of sensors.

Highly Sensitive Fiber‐Optic Intrinsic Electromagnetic Field Sensing

“…The proposed sensor (with 5 cm fused POF sample) shows the highest electromagnetic field sensitivity and resolution among all previously reported intrinsic magnetic field sensors, where the modal interferometer potential resolution (45 μT) is orders of magnitude higher than the ones obtained with terbium‐doped fiber (0.02 T). [ 10 ] Considering extrinsic electromagnetic field sensors using magnetic fluids, magnetostrictive materials, or high Verdet constant sensing films, the proposed intrinsic electromagnetic field sensor showed a similar resolution when compared with most approaches, [ 5 ] where more sensitive approaches are based on nanocomposites [ 11 ] and grating devices of complex fabrication. [ 5 ] It is important to mention that such a high sensitivity of the proposed sensor and the capability of tuning the sensitivity through minor changes in the interferometer configuration (i.e., length of the fused POF) enable a large range of applications in different fields.…”

“…[ 10 ] Considering extrinsic electromagnetic field sensors using magnetic fluids, magnetostrictive materials, or high Verdet constant sensing films, the proposed intrinsic electromagnetic field sensor showed a similar resolution when compared with most approaches, [ 5 ] where more sensitive approaches are based on nanocomposites [ 11 ] and grating devices of complex fabrication. [ 5 ] It is important to mention that such a high sensitivity of the proposed sensor and the capability of tuning the sensitivity through minor changes in the interferometer configuration (i.e., length of the fused POF) enable a large range of applications in different fields. The proposed fused POF interferometer can be used in contactless current sensing, which plays important roles in energy systems and electric machine monitoring.…”

“…However, some optical fiber sensors for electromagnetic field intensity have been proposed. [ 5 ] Many of these approaches are based on magnetic fluids, which have been used in conjunction with interferometers, fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs), and surface Plasmon resonance, as summarized by Peng et al [ 5 ] In these approaches, magnetic field changes (in different parameters) in the fluid and the interaction between the magnetic fluid and optical fiber can lead to tuning of the refractive index, transmittance, birefringence, or Faraday effect. [ 6,7 ] In addition, optical fiber sensors embedded in metal cantilevers and magnetostrictive sensing films have been proposed.…”

Electro-Optical Measurement of Intense Electric Field on a High Energy Pulsed Power Accelerator

“…In Consoli 12 and Robinson 13 et al, the authors describe electro-optical measurements of electromagnetic pulses generated by laser-plasma interaction in the nanosecond regime where they measured a maximum external electric eld 12 of 261 kV/m. A comprehensive review of various approaches to measure electric elds is given in Peng 14 et al…”

Survivable Deployments of Optical Sensor Networks against Multiple Failures and Disasters: A Survey

“…It provides sensing solutions with optical performance for almost all kinds of applications and environments, such as monitoring of oil fields and large civil engineering structures, as well as natural environments [17,18,19]. In [20], the authors gave an overview of optical sensing technology for electromagnetic field measurement. They analyzed the principles of several types of sensors, including the probe-based Faraday effect, magnetostrictive materials, and magnetic fluids, discussed each advantage and disadvantage, and reviewed future outlooks on the performance improvement of sensors.…”