A magnetically sensitive optical fiber is described. Specifically, this fiber is comprised of a central core containing magnetostrictive material and an optical waveguide, having an optical ring core and inner- and outer-glass cladding layers, clad to the central core. The core is constructed from magnetostrictive material which is readily and inexpensively available as wire of various gauges. The wire is chosen to have a relatively large cross-sectional area with respect to that of the glass cladding layer(s). The resulting optical fiber is advantageously highly sensitive to weak magnetic fields and is also both simple and inexpensive to manufacture.
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