A sensor for vector electric field measurements through a nonlinear anisotropic optical crystal

Area of Science:

• Electrical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Optics

Background:

• Accurate electric field measurement is vital for electrical applications, from normal operation monitoring to detecting abnormal behaviors like corona discharge and partial discharges.
• Existing electric field sensors often struggle with the wide spectral bandwidth (50 Hz to 70 MHz) required for comprehensive analysis.
• Current research predominantly focuses on isotropic crystals, limiting sensor development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a fully dielectric sensor capable of measuring two components of the electric field.
• To utilize a wide class of optical crystals, including anisotropic materials, for enhanced sensor performance.
• To validate the sensor's capability across a broad spectral range and under different electrical conditions.

Main Methods:

• Development of a novel fully dielectric sensor design.
• Investigation of various optical crystals, including anisotropic materials, for electric field sensing.
• Experimental validation using measurements at 50 Hz and with lightning impulse signals.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated the sensor's ability to measure electric field components.
• Successfully employed anisotropic optical crystals in the sensor design.
• Validated sensor performance at 50 Hz and during lightning impulse events, confirming its wide spectral width capability.

Conclusions:

• The developed dielectric sensor shows promise for measuring vector electric field waveforms over a wide spectral range.
• The use of anisotropic crystals expands the possibilities for designing advanced electric field sensors.
• This technology can enhance the monitoring and diagnostics of electrical systems.