| Summary: | This thesis presents a study of the theory of operation, fabrication, and characterization
of the infrared Integrated Optics Pockels Cell (IOPC) as a high-voltage sensor. The IOPC
is primarily a polarization controlling device which employs the linear electro-optic effect
(Pockels effect) of lithium niobate to measure an electric field. A complete IOPC-based
system consists of an infrared laser, polarization preserving fibers to deliver and receive
polarized light to and from the sensor-head, a sensor-head to be placed in the high-voltage
environment, and photodetectors to convert optical signals to electrical ones. The sensor
head is basically formed by a z-propagating titanium diffused channel waveguide in a y-cut
lithium niobate substrate.
The theory of operation of the IOPC is explained and, as the characteristic equation of
the sensor, a normalized optical-intensity-out/electric-field-in transfer function is derived. A
mathematical description of the Ti:LiNbC>3 channel waveguide as a function of the fabrication
parameters is provided; then, the associated optical field distribution, using numerical
methods, is calculated.
Also, an approximate analytical expression for the intrinsic difference between the
propagation constants of the TE- and TM-like modes in a z-propagating Ti:LiNb03 channel
waveguide is derived. To justify our method, the derived expression is applied to a simple
waveguide case for which analytical solutions are possible.
The experimental part of work consists of the fabrication of the sensor-head and construction
of a completely integrated sensor. The fabrication procedures and integration steps
taken to realize a fully connectorized IOPC sensor are explained in detail. In order that IOPC should be considered as a plausible alternative to conventional
potential transformers for high-voltage measurements, its performance should be at least
as good as the current technology. In this regard, various tests were conducted on the
fabricated IOPCs to measure device characteristics and evaluate their performance under
various conditions. It is concluded that the sensor is capable of meeting the standards
suggested for AC voltage metering and high-voltage switching-impulse monitoring. === Applied Science, Faculty of === Electrical and Computer Engineering, Department of === Graduate
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