Magneto-optic Faraday effect current sensor based on thin cobalt films

Abstract

Magneto-optic sensors allow to measure currents through high voltage lines with considerable advantages. We present a method based on thin cobalt films which will be eventually developed to design a current sensor. Two magneto-optics effects are considered in this paper, Faraday and Kerr effects. Measures have been taken in both cases to decide which may be more interesting in the design. We concluded that the Faraday effect gives a larger polarization angle rotation. Different electronics schemes are also studied to reach the most accurate and noiseless signal as possible.