A novel all-fibre configuration for a flexible polarimetric current sensor

In this paper a polarimetric fibre-optics current sensor in a new highly versatile all-fibre configuration is described. The optical configuration is particularly simple and is based on a back-and-forth propagation through a twisted sensing fibre. This results in a very flexible sensing cable which can be adapted to a great number of existing power installations, by simply winding the fibre around the uninterrupted electrical conductor. The prototype presented here is designed to measure ac and dc currents with an excellent accuracy over more than three decades. © 2004 IOP Publishing Ltd