Compact Optical Fiber For Extreme Environments (COFFEE)

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) proposes the development of a Compact Optical Fiber For Extreme Environments (COFFEE) sensor to measure fast, transient magnetic fields generated in military system components due to nuclear weapons effects (NWE) such as Internal Electromagnetic Pulse (IEMP) and System Generated EMP (SGEMP). Knowledge of these magnetic fields is important to validate models of a particular components response to NWE. Presently, these fields are measured with small induction coils that are limited by electromagnetic interference susceptibility, finite size constraints, and proximity within a test object. The COFFEE system will provide a low profile sensor that measures magnetic fields based on the Faraday effect in a small section of doped glass fiber. The system will be capable of capturing the transient effects on the relevant nanosecond timescales while the optical based sensing element will be more robust to EMI and X-ray radiation than traditional induction coils.