title: Current sensor using heterodyne detection.
abstract: Based on the Faraday effect for measuring ac current, we describe a fiber-optic sensor that uses laser-diode intensity modulation to perform heterodyne signal detection. The sensor output at the carrier frequency is used as a reference signal to normalize the results. The sensing element consists of a few coils low-birefringence fibers between polarizers. We built the current sensor described above and tested its performance--sensitivity and noise--as functions of the angle between polarizers.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ingenería, Instituto de Física, J Herrera y Reissig 565, 11300 Montevideo, Uruguay.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dubra
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arnaud
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Perciante