Fiber-optic heterodyne phase-shift measurement of plasma current

Abstract

By combining twisted optical sensing fiber and heterodyne phase detection of circular irefringence we have (a) overcome the distortion problem caused by residual linear birefringence in the Faraday rotation method of measuring enclosed current and (b) used only a single output detector without requiring intensity normalization. Resolution of 400 ampere-turns has been obtained in the hostile electromagnetic environment of a working thermonuclear fusion research device. The fiber was simply wound around the existing machine. The measured values are in excellent agreement with those of the electrical Rogowski coil installed when the machine was built.