OPTICAL FIBER MAGNETIC SENSOR

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve a detection limit in detecting a minute magnetic signal and detection accuracy in measuring the level of a magnetic signal. SOLUTION: In this optical fiber magnetic sensor, a magnetostriction converter is structured by uniting a magnetostrictive material to a sensing optical fiber of a fiber-optic interferometer and the magnetostriction converter is excited by thereto applying an AC magnetic field. Magnetic signals are detected based on a component arising correspondingly to the excitation frequency of the magnetic field and a component arising correspondingly to a frequency twice as high as the excitation frequency out of magnetostriction components arising in the magnetostrictive material. COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT