Optical electric-field sensor using single β-BaB_2O_4 crystal

摘要

A novel optical electric-field sensor is proposed and experimentally investigated by using single beta barium borate (β-BaB_2O_4, BBO) crystal. The optical sensing unit is only composed of single BBO crystal and two polarizers, the π/2 optical bias is provided by natural birefringence of the BBO crystal itself. Advantages of the BBO crystal over previous lithium niobate crystal used as electric-field sensor mainly include larger measurement sensitivity and no ferroelectric ringing effect. The 50Hz ac and lighting impulse electric fields in the range of (10~400)kV/m have been measured in experiment with good linearity and fast response.