Miniature Photonic Magnetic Sensor for Fuzes

Using newly available materials and component technologies, Visidyne proposes to demonstrate the feasibility of a novel monolithic sensor based on the photonic sensing of a magnetic field. The proposed sensor is capable of routine high sensitivity at bandwidths in excess of 500 kHz, and large dynamic range. Its ability to be implemented as a monolithic design will result in a package less than one centimeter in length, immunity to extreme environments such as EMI and ultra-high g-loading. Low cost manufacturing is assured by the fact that implementation of the technique is accomplished using components already in mass use for such fields as CD players and Fiber Optic Communication. The proposed effort includes a bench top experiment demonstrating its sensitivity, temporal response, and dynamic range. A Phase II effort would consist of the construction and field testing of several monolithic fuzes. BENEFITS: A miniature high bandwidth magnetic field sensor that is electrially passive is presently not available and can be expected to find use for diagnostic applications around electrical generators, high voltage power lines and for mapping antenna fields.