Optical Current and Magnetic Field Sensor Using Mach-Zehnder Interferometer With Nanoparticles

In this paper, we present an electric current and magnetic field sensor using Mach-Zehnder interferometer in optical fibers with paramagnetic nanoparticles. We used NiFe2O4 Nickel Ferrite nanoparticles with average crystallite size of 72 nm ± 13 nm. We also present an approximate mathematical modeling for the sensor analysis. The transmission of the sensor is altered by the vibration of the nanoparticles in the presence of alternating magnetic field, causing imbalance between the optical signals of the interferometer arms. We observed increased signal output of the sensor with increasing magnetic field variations, reaching approximately 20 dB. We also analyzed the reduction of the optical signal at the sensor output by increasing the distance between the sensor and the magnetic field generating element. Taking into consideration the structure of the sensor, the results demonstrate the possibility of using this alternating current and magnetic field sensor. The sensor stands out regarding its structural aspect, considering that the nanoparticles are low weight and small size, so the sensor can be used in several applications.