Optimal design of IRIS-based polarimetric intrinsic fiber optic current sensors

Performance of reciprocity-compensated polarimetric fiber optic current sensors are analyzed for typical low-birefringence fibers. The intensity-based reciprocity-insensitive structure (IRIS) can effectively balance the birefringent and lossy influences in intrinsically low-birefringence fiber-based current sensors, while supplementary techniques such as wavelength control and pole-zero cancellation are needed to eliminate the strong polarization coupling effect in spun fiber-based sensors. It is shown from simulation that the stability of the sensor can be maximized by using the IRIS and a suitable initial birefringence.