Fiber-Optically Isolated Instrumentation for Pulsed Power System Diagnostics

Advances in analog fiber optic telemetry and high sample rate/wide bandwidth analog-to-digital converters have enabled the development of increasingly sophisticated instrumentation suited for the highly stressing electromagnetic environment associated with many pulsed power systems. We report the development of several new capabilities, one based on analog modulation of the fiber-transmitted light and one in which a high-bandwidth digitizer is packaged in a compact configuration and the light signals are transmitted digitally using standard network protocols. Both systems are battery powered and heavily shielded to allow measurements to be made in regions of extremely high field strengths. Connection with external instrumentation and control systems is accomplished by using only fiberoptic cabling, providing completely isolated measurements.