Patent ID: 6320366
Filing Date: 2001-11-20
Classification: C03C,G01R

Abstract:
A method for measuring a magnitude of an exceptionally large current of up to about 200 kA, the method comprising the steps of:providing a glass fiber current sensor having a core glass composition composed predominantly of zirconium fluoride and containing up to about 3 mole % lead fluoride, the glass fiber current sensor further having a low Verdet constant at a wavelength used for the measurement and being capable of causing an angular rotation of polarized light less than 0.45.degree. per kA per pass at the wavelength;providing a conductor;passing the current through the conductor to create a magnetic field surrounding the conductor;positioning the glass fiber current sensor within the magnetic field;propagating a polarized light into the glass fiber current sensor;measuring the angle of rotation of the polarized light in the glass fiber current sensor; anddetermining the magnitude of the current from the angle of rotation of the polarized light.