Integrated Optical Voltage Sensor

An innovative integrated optical Mach-Zehnder interferometer voltage sensor is proposed for fabrication in a lithium niobate substrate. The novel feature of this sensor is that one leg of the interferometer is reverse poled by selective ferroelectric domain inversion techniques. This feature permits simple electrode structures for high voltage sensing without the need for voltage division. Optical fibers link the voltage sensor to the power distribution control system. Since the optical fibers and the sensor are comprised of dielectric materials, the electrical isolation problems between the high voltage system and the control system are eliminated. The optical fiber and sensor are immune to electromagnetic interference and, thus, yield accurate measurements over a wide dynamic range. This voltage sensor would be ideally suitable for automatic control of space or aeronautic power management and distribution systems. During the Phase I effort, SRICO proposes to develop and demonstrate the feasibility of the integrated optic voltage sensor for electric power distribution systems. Compact, low-cost, radiation- and fault-tolerant sensors could be produced using this technology.