A low-frequency optical accelerometer

In this paper, we present a low-frequency optical accelerometer which may be used as a part of a monitoring system in hydroelectric power plants. The high sensitivity required by the application has been achieved by using an interferometric process using optical fibre technology. Its compactness and the simplicity of its principle make it very suitable for this application. Dans cet article, nous presentons un nouvel accelerometre optique basse-frequence destine a etre utilise dans un programme de surveillance dans les centrales hydroelectriques. La sensibilite requise par l'application a ete obtenue en utilisant un procede interferometrique. Sa robustesse et sa simplicite de mise en uvre le rendent particulierement adapte pour l'application visee.