An electro-optic probe for ship EMC applications

This paper describes a photonic-based electromagnetic (EM) field measurement system developed for shipboard use. The system is operable from 2 MHz to beyond 18 GHz. The small probe size and all-dielectric fiber-optic cabling of the electro-optic (EO) probe allows for non-intrusive ultrawideband shipboard EMC measurements to be performed. These EMC measurements are useful for a number of navy electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) applications requiring frequency, amplitude, and phase information. These applications include determining and verifying shipboard emission control status for tactical security, monitoring radiation hazards to personnel, ordnance, and fuel at key locations aboard ship, providing inputs for a real-time electromagnetic interference (EMI) management system, and monitoring the signal quality of individual shipboard emitters.